New retirement legislation gets Shura committee nod even though it was unanimously rejected a few days ago
The “controversial” new Retirement Law was yesterday approved by the Services Committee in Shura Council, few days after it was unanimously rejected by the second chamber of the Legislative Authority, the Council of Representatives.
The proposed law raised a wave of controversy in the country in recent weeks, as it was claimed to “risk” pensioners’ wellbeing and social security.
Urgently submitted by the government to both councils in the Legislative Authority on May 28, the bill amends some of the provisions of the existing Law 13 of 1975 and Law 24 of 1976 on the regulation of retirement pensions and gratuities for government employees, and the Social Insurance Law.
According to MPs and social activists, the amendment is “worrying” as it grants the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) the absolute jurisdictions to determine pensions’ percentages, retirement age, pensions increment and other powers related to the regulation of retirement and pensions of the employees of the public and military sectors, as well as members of the Legislative Authority and municipal councils.
Such jurisdictions are currently governed by the law and can only be modified if the approval of MPs and Shura Council members is obtained.
As reported last week on Tribune, views opposing the amendment claimed that “it’s unconstitutional, deprives the Legislative Authority of its constitutional jurisdictions and predicts a mysterious future for the pensions’ funds, beneficiaries list and regulations”.
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