National Pay Commission’s Chairman Mohamed Faizal, on Sunday night, said health sector workers’ job allowance is subject to increase every two years with the new pay hike for health sector workers.

Faizal announced the change during a joint press conference held by the Pay Commission, Health Ministry and Gender Ministry to brief the public regarding pay hike for health sector workers.

“Salary increments will be applicable for all jobs every two years. Like increments every two years, there will be increments that will be applicable every four years as well,” he said.

Faizal detailed salary structures of approximately 3,701 health sector workers will be altered with the pay hike. They include 520 staff in regional hospitals, 471 staff in atoll hospitals, 965 staff in health centers, 1,004 staff in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), 298 staff in Hulhumale’ Hospital and 452 other staff.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced a major hike in the pay of health workers during a national address on Sunday morning. According to the president, the pay hikes will come into effect Monday, coinciding with Labor Day.

President Solih said his administration’s pay harmonization initiative is designed to ensure workers receive appropriate remuneration and to eliminate pay differences. He said that once fully implemented, it will produce positive changes to the salary of all civil servants.

The initiative will involve all civil servants, including the judiciary, security services, imams and muezzins, he said.

Pay hikes have previously been implemented under this initiative to workers in the education sector and higher education sector.