Country Hiring Guide

Discover & Hire Top Talents in Maldives

Everything you need to know about the country's employment laws, culture, and workforce insights.

Capital

Malé UTC+5

Economic Hubs

Malé, Addu City

Currency

Rufiyaa (MVR)

Languages

Dhivehi, English

Payroll

monthly

Employer Tax

7.00%

Workforce Insights

Talent Landscape in Maldives

The Maldives has an estimated labor force of about 272,000 (2025), with talent demand concentrated in tourism, transport, construction, fisheries and financial services. International employers are most likely to find relevant candidate pools for Hospitality, Marine Operations, and Construction. The market is compact, so targeted hiring and regional talent mobility are important for scarce specialist roles.

Major Economic Hubs

Malé, Addu City

Skills In-Demand

Hospitality

Working Culture

Island Networks and Close Professional Circles

The Maldives has a small, interconnected labour market where reputation travels quickly across employers and islands. Professionalism, discretion and reliable relationships are especially important when teams and suppliers know one another personally.

Islamic Practice in Daily Scheduling

Prayer times, Ramadan and Friday routines shape many workplaces. Meetings, meals and deadlines should be planned with these rhythms in mind, especially in government and locally owned organisations.

Resort Culture Versus Malé Offices

Work culture can differ sharply between resort operations and offices in Malé. Resort teams are highly international and shift based, while local corporate settings may be more hierarchical and relationship driven.

Average Salary

Job Title	Avg Monthly Salary (MVR)
Accounting & Finance
Administrative Executive, Junior (1-3 years)	16,500 MVR	S$22,440
Administrative Executive, Mid (3-5 years)	22,000 MVR	S$29,920
Book Keeper, Junior (1-3 years)	14,800 MVR	S$20,128
Book Keeper, Mid (3-5 years)	20,100 MVR	S$27,336
Finance Executive, Junior (1-3 years)	19,000 MVR	S$25,840
Finance Executive, Mid (3-5 years)	24,900 MVR	S$33,864
Creatives
Graphic Designer, Junior (1-3 years)	19,000 MVR	S$25,840
Graphic Designer, Mid (3-5 years)	27,500 MVR	S$37,400
UI/UX Designer, Junior (1-3 years)	20,100 MVR	S$27,336
UI/UX Designer, Mid (3-5 years)	34,800 MVR	S$47,328
Data Analytics
Data Analyst, Junior (1-3 years)	27,500 MVR	S$37,400
Data Analyst, Mid (3-5 years)	35,900 MVR	S$48,824
Data Engineering
Data Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	27,500 MVR	S$37,400
Data Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	44,400 MVR	S$60,384
AI & Machine Learning
Data Scientist, Junior (1-3 years)	27,500 MVR	S$37,400
Data Scientist, Mid (3-5 years)	37,000 MVR	S$50,320
Machine Learning Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	23,200 MVR	S$31,552
Machine Learning Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	34,800 MVR	S$47,328
Digital Marketing
Content Marketing, Junior (1-3 years)	22,200 MVR	S$30,192
Content Marketing, Mid (3-5 years)	32,700 MVR	S$44,472
Digital Marketing, Junior (1-3 years)	22,200 MVR	S$30,192
Digital Marketing, Mid (3-5 years)	32,700 MVR	S$44,472
Growth Marketing, Junior (1-3 years)	23,200 MVR	S$31,552
Growth Marketing, Mid (3-5 years)	34,800 MVR	S$47,328
Software Development
Backend Developer, Junior (1-3 years)	28,500 MVR	S$38,760
Backend Developer, Mid (3-5 years)	42,200 MVR	S$57,392

Job Title	Avg Monthly Salary (MVR)
DevOps
DevOps Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	27,500 MVR	S$37,400
DevOps Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	37,000 MVR	S$50,320
Site Reliability Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	27,500 MVR	S$37,400
Site Reliability Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	39,100 MVR	S$53,176
Customer Support
Customer Service Officer, Junior (1-3 years)	13,700 MVR	S$18,632
Customer Service Officer, Mid (3-5 years)	18,000 MVR	S$24,480
Customer Experience
Customer Success Manager, Junior (1-3 years)	20,100 MVR	S$27,336
Customer Success Manager, Mid (3-5 years)	28,500 MVR	S$38,760
HR Operations
HR Executive, Junior (1-3 years)	18,000 MVR	S$24,480
HR Executive, Mid (3-5 years)	24,300 MVR	S$33,048
FinTech
Blockchain Developer, Junior (1-3 years)	22,200 MVR	S$30,192
Blockchain Developer, Mid (3-5 years)	32,700 MVR	S$44,472
Payments Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	22,200 MVR	S$30,192
Payments Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	29,600 MVR	S$40,256
Cloud Computing
Cloud Engineer, Junior (1-3 years)	25,300 MVR	S$34,408
Cloud Engineer, Mid (3-5 years)	37,000 MVR	S$50,320

Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide in Maldives

This guide highlights the fundamental rules employers must know to hire compliantly, covering pay structures, leave policies, termination procedures, and compliance requirements.

For details, browse the topics through the tabs below.

Payroll in Maldives

Payroll Cycle

Salary is generally paid monthly on the contractual pay date.

Minimum Wage

Minimum wage requirements vary by sector, worker category, and nationality. There is no single rate that applies uniformly to every employee.

Overtime Pay

- Normally 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week. - Overtime should generally not exceed 2 hours per day unless exceptional circumstances apply.

- Normal working day: Hourly Rate × 1.25 × Overtime Hours. - Friday or public holiday: Hourly Rate × 1.50 × Overtime Hours.

Bonus

13th Month

Maldives does not impose a general statutory 13th month salary on private sector employers. Private sector employees therefore have no automatic entitlement to an additional annual salary unless a binding employment contract, collective agreement, wage order, employer rule, or special sector law provides one.

No statutory private sector calculation applies. Where a binding instrument grants an annual bonus or 13th salary, the amount must be calculated under that instrument; there is no legal default that it equals 1 month of salary.

No private sector employee in Maldives qualifies automatically under the general labour law. Eligibility is limited to employees expressly covered by the applicable contract, collective agreement, wage order, employer rule, or special sector provision. The general law does not prescribe a universal minimum service period, prorating method, payment deadline, or entitlement after resignation or dismissal for a 13th salary. Those points must be determined from the specific binding instrument. Statutory leave pay, severance, end of service benefits, profit sharing, and public sector payments are separate benefits and should not be recorded as private sector 13th month salary unless the local rule expressly treats them that way.

Employees Benefits

Types of Benefit	Details
Mandatory
Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme and work injury obligations	Employers in Maldives must apply the contribution and registration rules for Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme and work injury obligations. Payroll should separately identify the employer funded amount and any employee deduction, use the statutory contribution wage or ceiling, and retain evidence of enrolment. The exact branches covered are those listed in the scheme, which can include retirement, health, unemployment or employment injury protection.
Work injury protection under Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme and work injury obligations	Maldives requires employers to protect employees against accidents and occupational disease through the work injury component of Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme and work injury obligations or a legally approved policy. The obligation includes premium or levy payment, accident reporting and cooperation with medical or disability assessments. Coverage is not replaced by a private medical plan.
Statutory termination or end of service entitlement in Maldives	Employees who are dismissed without the statutory notice are owed pay in lieu. The Employment Act does not create a universal gratuity for all private sector separations, so additional severance generally depends on the contract or employer policy.
Public healthcare or mandatory medical coverage in Maldives	Maldives relies mainly on its public health system rather than a universal employer purchased medical policy. The employer must still comply with any payroll health levy, social insurance medical branch or visa linked insurance requirement that applies to the worker. Private group medical cover is therefore supplementary unless local law expressly makes it compulsory for the employee category.
Optional
Supplementary private medical insurance in Maldives	Private medical insurance in Maldives should be designed around the gaps left by Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme and work injury obligations. Employers commonly add faster outpatient access, private hospital treatment, dental, optical, mental health and dependant cover. The policy remains optional unless a visa, emirate, collective agreement or sector rule makes insurance compulsory, and any taxable benefit treatment should be processed through payroll.
Performance or profit sharing bonus in Maldives	A performance or profit sharing bonus in Maldives is optional unless promised by contract, collective agreement or an established plan. The rules should specify the performance period, measurable targets, proration for joiners and leavers, and treatment during protected leave. Payroll must apply local income tax and social contribution rules to the payment.
Meal, commuting and business travel support in Maldives	Meal, commuting and business travel support in Maldives should be split between fixed cash allowances and reimbursements supported by receipts. That distinction determines whether the amount is taxable salary, exempt expense repayment or part of the contribution wage. The policy should state limits, eligible journeys and the treatment of remote work.
Housing, relocation and remote work support in Maldives	Housing, relocation and remote work support in Maldives is normally contractual rather than statutory. The policy should identify covered costs, taxable benefit treatment, repayment conditions for early departure and whether the support is temporary or continues throughout the assignment.

Taxes

Country Tax

Maldives's country tax is known as Goods and Services Tax (GST) 8% general rate

Individual Tax

Tax Component	Contribution Rate (%)	Details
Income Tax Structure
Resident Tax Rates	0% to 15%	The Maldives taxes remuneration under progressive annual income bands from 0% to 15%, with employee withholding based on monthly remuneration bands.
Non-Resident Employment Income	0% to 15% through employee withholding	Employment remuneration is subject to employee withholding tax using the remuneration bands. Residence and source rules should be checked for cross border arrangements.
Taxable Income Adjustments
Main Deductions and Allowances	Country specific	Statutory personal deductions, allowances or reliefs may reduce taxable income. Eligibility, limits and the calculation method depend on the employee's circumstances and the applicable tax year.
Taxable & Exempt Components
Bonuses and Cash Allowances	Generally taxable at marginal employment rate	Remuneration expressly includes salary, wages, allowances, commissions, cash benefits, and employment related payments for employee withholding tax.
Benefits in Kind	Taxable value at marginal rate where applicable	Noncash benefits provided in connection with employment form part of remuneration unless a specific Income Tax Act exclusion applies.

More Countries

Explore hiring in other countries

Indonesia

CapitalJakarta

Employers Tax10.24% – 11.74%

Employers Tax13.95% – 14.95%

Employers Tax7.75% – 17.25%

Australia

CapitalCanberra

Employers Tax12.00% + variable

Bahrain

CapitalManama

Employers Tax7.20% – 18.00%

Bangladesh

CapitalDhaka

Employers TaxVariable

Brunei

CapitalBandar Seri Begawan

Employers Tax8.50% – 10.50% or BND 57.50

Employers Tax5.00% + variable

India

CapitalNew Delhi

Employers Tax15.75% + variable

Israel

CapitalJerusalem

Employers Tax17.01% – 20.10%

Japan

CapitalTokyo

Employers Tax16.46% – 25.21%

Employers Tax17.50% – 22.50%

Kuwait

CapitalKuwait City

Employers Tax0.00% – 11.50%

Employers Tax12.50% – 14.50%

Nepal

CapitalKathmandu

Employers Tax20.00% or scheme specific

New Zealand

CapitalWellington

Employers Tax3.50% + variable

Employers Tax11.00% + variable

Employers Tax0.00% – 14.00%

Employers Tax10.53% – 29.12%

Sri Lanka

CapitalSri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Employers Tax15.00%

Thailand

CapitalBangkok

Employers Tax5.20% – 6.00%

Employers Tax12.00% – 25.00%

Employers Tax16.40% – 19.40%

Botswana

CapitalGaborone

Employers TaxVariable

Employers Tax13.95% – 17.20%

Chad

CapitalN'Djamena

Employers Tax16.50%

Democratic Republic of the Congo

CapitalKinshasa

Employers Tax14.20% – 16.20%

Employers Tax5.00% + variable

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)

CapitalYamoussoukro

Employers Tax15.45% – 18.45%

Kenya

CapitalNairobi

Employers Tax7.50% + variable

Lesotho

CapitalMaseru

Employers Tax1.00% + variable

Employers Tax10.00% + variable

Mali

CapitalBamako

Employers Tax17.90% – 20.90%

Employers Tax0.90% + variable

Employers Tax19.40% – 23.40%

Employers Tax2.00% + variable

Employers TaxAt least 22.50%

Employers Tax6.50% + variable

Zimbabwe

CapitalHarare

Employers Tax5.50% + variable

Employers Tax25.00% + variable

Bosnia and Herzegovina

CapitalSarajevo

Employers Tax0.00% – 6.00%

Bulgaria

CapitalSofia

Employers Tax18.92% – 19.62%

Employers Tax15.40% + variable

Employers TaxFixed amounts + variable

Employers Tax19.32% – 20.24% + variable

France

CapitalParis

Employers Tax25.00% – 45.00%

Employers Tax21.20% + variable

Employers TaxAt least 17.95%

Ireland

CapitalDublin

Employers Tax9.00% – 11.25%

Employers Tax7.20% + variable

Employers TaxAt least 12.57%

Employers TaxAt least 6.10% + variable

Employers Tax2.00% – 16.10% + variable

Poland

CapitalWarsaw

Employers Tax20.98% – 23.64%

Employers Tax2.25% – 10.25%

Employers Tax30.65% + variable

Employers Tax7.40% – 9.90% + variable

Ukraine

CapitalKyiv

Employers Tax8.41% – 22.00%

United Kingdom

CapitalLondon

Employers Tax18.00% – 18.50% + 15.00% on taxable benefits

Argentina

CapitalBuenos Aires

Employers Tax24.00% – 26.40% + variable

Employers Tax31.70% – 39.30%

Canada

CapitalOttawa

Employers Tax8.12% – 12.23% + variable

Chile

CapitalSantiago

Employers Tax5.87% – 6.47% + variable

Colombia

CapitalBogotá

Employers Tax30.02% – 36.46%

Costa Rica

CapitalSan José

Employers Tax26.83% + variable

Employers Tax11.15% + variable

CapitalGuatemala City

Employers Tax17.25% – 43.48% + 20.40% of UMA

Nicaragua

CapitalManagua

Employers Tax23.50% – 24.50%

Panama

CapitalPanama City

Employers Tax14.31% – 19.42%

Employers Tax9.75% + variable

Suriname

CapitalParamaribo

Employers Tax15.15% + variable

Trinidad and Tobago

CapitalPort of Spain

Employers TaxApproximately 8.80% + variable

United States

CapitalWashington, D.C.

Employers Tax8.25% + variable

Uruguay

CapitalMontevideo

Employers Tax12.60% + variable

Saudi Arabia

CapitalRiyadh

Employers Tax2.00% – 12.25%

United Arab Emirates

CapitalAbu Dhabi

Employers Tax0.00% – 15.00% + variable GCC rate

Let's Talk

Explore Maldives's Employment Essentials

Glints specializes in Southeast Asia, making us the ideal partner for your expansion. Let's work together to simplify hiring and ensure compliance in Maldives.