AN “end-of-service” bonus will be transferred to the bank accounts of public representatives in the next few days, according to sources.
The bonus would see elected representatives – MPs and municipal councillors – and appointed representatives – Shura Council and Capital Trustees Board members – receiving a wage as a bonus for each 12 months of their 48-month term.
The monthly wages which are BD4,250 for regular MPs and Shura Council members include BD2,000 basic salary, BD1,200 representational allowance, BD300 social allowance and BD750 for car instalment.
The first and second vice-chairmen in each chamber receive BD500 more, while Parliament speaker and the Shura Council chairman receive BD1,000 more.
The bonus includes all allowances except for the car instalment.
It means that MPs and Shura Council members will each receive BD14,000 (BD3,500 per month). First and second vice-chairmen will each receive BD16,000 (BD4,000 per month), and BD18,000 (BD4,500 per month) for both Parliament speaker and the Shura Council chairman.
Municipal councillors and Capital Trustees Board members receive BD1,500 monthly without any other allowance. Vice-chairmen receive BD1,800 without any other allowance. Chairmen receive BD2,000 with a BD300 car allowance.
It means that normal members will receive BD6,000 as a bonus, vice-chairmen BD7,200 and chairmen BD8,000 excluding the car allowance.
This is the first time this new system is being implemented in Bahrain after MPs and Shura Council members voted in special sessions in October 2018 to cancel life-time pensions.
Twenty per cent of the basic wage (BD2,000 for normal MPs and Shura Council members) was being monthly deducted towards the pensions.
Elected and appointed members were receiving 40pc of the total wage as a pension and 80pc if elected or appointed twice, and 90pc if more.
Sources who confirmed that payments would be out in the next few days told the GDN that the pay-outs would cost the government coffers BD1.130 million.
Legislators in April approved a parliamentary-proposed legislation that would allow ex-MPs and Shura Council members to return to their old government jobs after their tenure should they lose their seats ... counting legislative service as part of their ‘employment years’.
Parliamentary-proposed amendments to the 2002 Parliament Bylaws Law were passed by 19 votes. Eight opposed the move, while 13 MPs abstained or were not present during the vote.
The government will now be forced to draft the amendment into proper law and refer it back within six months, despite opposing the move saying that vacancies would have to be filled in the public sector as a four-year absence from service, or longer, would hamper an organisation’s work flow.
Some MPs claimed during the session that a number of their predecessors were forced to become driving instructors or ended up selling water on the street because the option of lifelong pensions after public service was cancelled in 2018.
During the session, they claimed that without a job-back guarantee only businessmen or pensioners would be able to afford to stand for election.
It was pointed out that former municipal councillors and Capital Trustees Board members have the right to get their jobs back in the public and private sector.
MPs and Shura Council members who worked in the private sector before being elected or appointed are also allowed to return to their former workplace.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))