Tax Appeal Tribunal staff wear black in protest demanding pay hike

Employees of Tax Appeal Tribunal staged a protest on Sunday as the employees remain without increments to their salaries despite increments to the salaries of employees working in other government institutions.

The employees, donning black clothes, halted their work to protest their concerns surrounding the lack of salary increment.

An employee from the tribunal who spoke to Sun said they have not received a salary increment in 12 years, meaning since the inception of the tribunal.

“None of us staff have received a salary increment. No increment to date. We have done a lot of work at the tribunal,” the employee said.

The employee further stated they have shared their concerns with senior management on various occasions to no avail.

“That is why we came out (to protest) today,” the employee stressed.

It was noted by the employee that the Tribunal staff had previously sought discussions with the Finance Ministry and the President’s Office to find a path forward.

The employee also stressed that the tribunal staff are not receiving the allowances they are entitled to on a regular basis as well.

Employees at the protest, citing these concerns, said they did not understand why the tribunal has been sidelined while salary increments have been announced and “instantly” enforced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to other institutions.

“Our main concern is salaries being “instantly” incremented for other institutes such as island councils and independent institutions. It is being done for them. So why have we not gotten an increment in 12 years of this place’s existence? Therefore, must increase our salaries without stalling till next January or something, as it had been done for other institutions,” another employee said.

Tax Appeal Tribunal was incepted by the Tax Administration Act for the purpose of adjudicating matters related to taxation.

Five members form the tribunal – who are appointed by the president with the approval of the parliament. The head of the tribunal is the president, to whom all staff report to, and oversees the operations of the tribunal.