Pensions will not be scrapped : Bahrain PM

Manama : Rumours over scrapping citizens’ pensions were denied by the head of the Government yesterday, giving citizens a sigh of relief.

Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa confirmed during the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday that “the rumours hinting end of Service Gratuities are baseless”.

“The premier affirmed the government’s keen interest to ensure the sustainability of pension funds for the best interests of employees and pensioners in the present and the future,” Cabinet Secretary General Dr. Yasser bin Essa Al Naser said in a statement that followed the meeting.

The matter surfaced following statements made by Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa during the weekly session of the Parliament on April 26.

The minister hinted that the pensions system in the country could be revised stating, “Every retirement system in the entire world requires to be revised once in a while.”

He also added that the matter would be discussed with the Legislative Authority before coming into effect, but this didn’t stop scores of Bahrainis from sharing their views on the issue through local press and social networks.

In another development, MPs demanded last Tuesday to have an open discussion on the matter in the presence of government officials during their weekly meeting
today.

Yet, it wasn’t announced if the discussion would be held after the Premier’s statements brought the rumours to an end.