The People's Majlis has approved an amendment to the Decentralisation Act to transfer employees of the Local Government Authority into the civil service.

The amendment was submitted on behalf of the Government by  Member of Parliament for Fuvahmulah North constituency Hamad Abdulla and was passed with the support of 59 members of parliament. The amendment was proposed to strengthen the operations and administrative structure of the Local Government Authority.

Under the amendment, employees required by the authority will be appointed and dismissed by the Civil Service Commission based on recommendations from the authority. The amendment also establishes the Chief Executive Officer of the LGA as the senior official responsible for matters relating to the administration of employees within the authority.

The amendment further states that salaries and allowances for positions within the authority will be determined by the National Pay Commission under the State pay framework. In addition, the bill formally includes waste management services among the public services required to be provided by local councils in islands and cities.

The Local Government Authority is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the work of local councils under the Decentralisation Act. Under the previous legal framework, authority to appoint and dismiss employees rested with the LGA board. The amendment revises those provisions as part of broader administrative changes proposed by the Government.