Ministry of Finance and Treasury has said that MVR 10.1 million has being released given out by the government as income support allowance to those who lost their employment due to COVID-19.

At the end of 27 June 2020, MVR 5.8 million were released to 1,450 individuals. Finance Ministry said that MVR 10.1 million was released to 2,507 people up to Friday, 3 July; a MVR 4.3 million increase compared to the previous week.

The income support allowance regulation for April, May and June states that the allowance will be given to those who lost their employment due to the situations regarding COVID-19, those who had a salary reduction due to COVID-19, those given a no-pay leave due to COVID-19 and freelancers. Under the regulation, only Maldivians working in Maldives are eligible for the allowance.

And so, those who lost their jobs and those who were suspended on no-pay would receive MVR 5,000 and those who got a salary reduction among those who received an initial salary under MVR 5,000 will receive MVR 5,000 under the income support regulation.

As for the freelancers, those who does not have an income would receive MVR 5,000 while those who are earning less would receive the amount that accumulates to MVR 5,000 including their income. The regulation does not cover those who do freelance work while employed with another entity.