President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that he has instructed government agencies to fire 228 political appointees within the next 15 days.
In a post on X, the President said this was a direct cost-cut measure as part of the government's economic reform agenda.
The President said This includes 7 State Ministers, 43 Deputy Ministers, 109 Senior Political Directors, and 69 Political Directors.
He added that this would save MVR 5.714m per month from the government budget.
These measures from the government come as the country struggles to stabilize its economy amid bludgeoning debt payments.
Last week, the World Bank said reforms to address the looming macroeconomic challenges in the Maldives may negatively affect the country's household welfare.
It said given the planned reform to the healthcare system and subsidy reforms, households may face significant welfare losses given these austerity measures and the higher prices that are likely to follow.
The World Bank forecasts overnight subsidy removal is estimated to increase poverty from 2.5 to 4.6 percent nationally and from 4.8 to 8.3 percent in the atolls, if not compensated with targeted cash transfers.
The poverty rate could nearly double among households with more than three children and single-parent households.
