Minimum pension limit: BD400 proposal passed

Manama: Bahrain’s legislators yesterday passed a proposal to set a new minimum pensions’ limit and increasing the existing one by BD200.

During their weekly meet in Gudaibiya yesterday, majority of the MPs voted for a law proposal to set BD400 as pensions’ minimum limit for Bahrainis aged above 55.

This includes citizens working in the public and private sectors. The previous limit was BD200.

The MPs said that the proposal comes to improve the livelihoods of retired citizens, as official statistics showed that majority of them receive monthly pensions that are not exceeding BD300.

The proposal also instructed to increase the pensions of retired military personnel to BD600.

The lawmakers added that “this is to reward citizens, who spent their lives serving the country and enable them to overcome the increasing financial burdens of life difficulties”.

On their part, the Social Insurance Organisation warned that “increasing pensions would dry out the state’s funds. 

They also pointed out that all retirees receive an additional allowance of BD150 to overcome the increasing financial responsibilities.

The proposal will be referred to the other half of the Legislative Authority, Shura Council, before it would be referred to the government for approval.