Sales tax abolished for sanitary napkins

Parliament approved Wednesday night a bill to exempt sanitary napkins from the six percent Goods and Services Tax.

Abolishing GST for pads and tampons, which were not counted among essential commodities with zero tax, was a campaign pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It was included in the agenda for the new administration’s first 100 days.

The government-sponsored legislation was passed unanimously with 73 votes in favour from the 79-member house.

During the debate on the bill earlier on Wednesday, MPs urged the government to monitor whether shops would reduce prices.

A campaign dubbed #MassaruTax (period tax) to abolish the tax was launched on social media by a pair of Maldivian sisters in 2016. An online petition was also circulated to gather support.

Oh to be in a Parliament that won’t snigger and sneer, giggle and chortle every time they hear the words “sanitary napkins.” #IHaveADream #MassaruTax

— Eva Abdulla 🎈❓ (@evattey) November 28, 2018

@ShafaRameez @Afarameez nicely done ☺️. #MassaruTax bill passed in Majlis with 73 votes. Not much has passed in this Parliament with all attending and voting aye. And 👍🏽 @presidencymv for quickly fixing an easily fixable concern.

— Eva Abdulla 🎈❓ (@evattey) November 28, 2018

@ShafaRameez and @Afarameez!
You both did it, period.
❤️ https://t.co/xHFQOTycBu

— Aryj (@Arrryj) November 29, 2018

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Condoms are GST free
Now sanitary napkins and tampons are too

Congrats! 😁♥️#MassaruTax

— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) November 28, 2018

Like honestly if you want to see something get done then just do it?? If you see issues you’re passionate about go for it? Who on Earth is stopping you? We saw something, we didn’t think it was right, we pointed it out. DO THE SAME. Quit complaining.

— KeehveFA🍊 (@ShafaRameez) November 28, 2018