Maldives this week: 7 - 13 November

On 14 November, Auditor General Hussein Niyazi advised parliament that passing the budget for 2022 as proposed by the government risked increasing the deficit by MVR1 billion. He raised concerns over the new tax revenues proposed by the government as well as the likelihood of realising the grants estimated for 2022. Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority, Ali Hashim, also raised concerns over the revenue estimates, especially over the risks of realising revenue estimated to come in from the lease of islands for tourism. He also stated that the central bank will be implementing a de-dollarisation policy in 2022 and that regulations on foreign exchange licensing and monitoring has also been drafted in preparation for implementing the policy. The MMA also requested parliament to cancel the approval granted to print money through the MMA by allowing for overdrawing of the public bank account, citing pressure on the exchange rate. Speaking at a parliament committee reviewing the budget for 2022, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said that increases in expenditure allocations for independent institutions will not be possible given the current economic and fiscal situation. 

On 14 November, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the Maldives Foreign Service Act, under which a foreign service to implement the Maldives' foreign policy will be established separate from the civil service. 

On 13 November, the Ministry of Defence, at a parliament committee on security services, shared details of the hydrography agreement signed with the Government of India. Under the agreement, India will be able to sell the information obtained through he survey, with 25 percent as royalties to be paid to the Maldives for sales to foreign parties and 25 percent for sales in the Maldives. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) also shared information on the agreement with India on the operation of a Dornier airplane gifted by India, and said that a total of 75 Indian nationals are stationed in the Maldives for operations, with 25 specifically for operation of the Dornier airplane. Chair of the parliament committee on security services Mohamed Aslam has also said that there is no threat to national security from the agreement signed with India on the development of a naval harbour and dockyard at Uthuru Thilafalhu, whereas MDP chairperson Hassan Latheef has said that the agreement has to be shared with the public. 

On 11 November, the Maldives Police Service raised concerns over 13 police officers being charged in a case of alleged abuse of children in actions taken to control unrest during a camp organised by the Children's Home in 2017. The MPS said that all actions taken had been within the bounds of law and regulations. 

On 10 November, Minister of Environment, Climate and Technology Aminath Shauna signed an agreement with the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) to mobilise USD200 million to support Maldives' adaptation priorities and nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. 

On 10 November, the Ministry of Education announced its inclusive education policy under which all schools in the Maldives will be made accessible for students with disabilities. 

On 10 November, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid said that the Government of Tajikistan has approved on-arrival visas for Maldivians, to start from 1 January 2022. 

On 10 November, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that civil servants have the freedom to choose their political ideologies but that provision of public services should be free of bias and political influence. 

On 10 November, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said that new debt availed by the current government is not higher than that availed during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration. 

On 10 November, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the second amendment to the Environment Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives, which prohibits the import, manufacturing and marketing of single-use plastics included as such in a list issued by the President. 

On 10 November, Transparency Maldives said that exempting foreign workers in the Maldives from the national minimum wage will indirectly disadvantage Maldivians and further exacerbate the exploitation and trafficking of foreign workers in the country. It also raised concerns over the government not keeping to the recommendations of the Minimum Wage Advisory Board in deciding on the minimum wage rates.  

On 9 November, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih returned to the Maldives after concluding his visit to Sri Lanka as guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy Cup 2021. The president had also met with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during the visit. 

On 9 November, mainstream media reported that Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has indicated a referendum will be held in November 2022 to vote on a parliamentary system of governance. 

On 9 November, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) presented Coastguard Aviation Squadron badges to two Maldivian pilots, who will be flying the Dornier aircraft donated by India. 

On 9 November, the Auditor General's Office issued a regulation on the auditing and accountability of state-owned enterprises. The regulation is applicable to state-owned enterprises where the government has a majority share, but not to financial institutions and publicly listed companies in which the government holds shares.

On 8 November, the Governments of Maldives and Hungary signed a memorandum of understanding under which the Hungarian government will provide 60 scholarships to Maldivian students over four years.

On 8 November, the Maldives International Arbitration Centre was officially inaugurated. 

On 8 November, opposition lawmaker and minority leader Ahmed Saleem called on the government to reduce the budget it has proposed for 2022 from MVR36.9 billion to MVR25 billion. 

On 8 November, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail announced the minimum wage. The rates specified at MVR38.90 per hour for large businesses, MVR33.65 per hour for medium sized businesses and MVR21 per hour for small sized businesses. The minimum wage for the public sector is set at MVR7,000 for those working six hours and MVR33.65 per hour for those working less than six. He also said that the Minimum Wage Advisory Board has recommended increasing civil service working hours from the current six to eight and that discussions will be held on the recommendation. He also said that the government is working with the World Bank to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme to be implemented in mid-2022. 

On 7 November, Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will depart for Sri Lanka on 8 November to participate in the opening ceremony of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy Cup 2021,  four nation football tournament being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

On 7 November, the judiciary committee of parliament passed amendments proposed to the penal code, to include the criminalsation of hate crimes inclusive of calling a Muslim a kafir. The committee also combined to the bill one proposed on criminalising the mocking of religion. 

On 7 November, the parliament committee on national development and heritage approved establishing a national fingerprint database. The committee recommendation follows its revie of an assessment made in the Maldives' ICT sector. 

On 7 November, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed said that police will be using body-worn cameras from January 2022. He also said that the police training center being established in Addu City under assistance from the Government of India will be opened on 29 March 2022. 

On 7 November the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) announced a bid seeking a party to undertake date collection for a housing assessment survey. The HRCM said the survey will assess the availability and affordability of housing in the Malé region.