PLANS to provide elderly citizens with 50 per cent discount on all government fees could be shelved on Sunday.
During its weekly session, the Shura Council is set to vote to insist on its version of amendments to the 2009 Elderly Rights Law, which suggest that the Cabinet determine the discount percentage, or outright exemptions, if it deemed necessary.
In November last year, MPs unanimously insisted on their version that grants a 50pc discount on all government fees without giving the Cabinet any authorisation to determine the discount per fee.
In case both chambers of the National Assembly stand their ground, the proposed legislation will be presented for a joint vote.
Under the proposed changes, which both chambers agree on, Bahrainis aged 60 and above could also get other deductions from companies and businesses seeking to support the move.
The Cabinet has asked for a rethink on Parliament’s suggested amendments, telling legislators that such discounts were already being given to the elderly in certain government services, especially traffic.
It also pointed out that decisions on extending discounts should be left to the government to ensure it properly manages revenues without harming its Fiscal Balancing Programme.
Finance and National Economy Ministry officials told Shura’s services committee that the Parliament proposed move will negatively impact the national state budget.
“The discounts are not just for a year or two, but many fiscal years to come, and there is no impact assessment presented by legislators on the short and medium term, in regard to limitless or undetermined discounts,” they said.
“The current select format for discounted fees is manageable and is not a burden on the revenues as the services and discount percentages are clear and taken into account.”
According to Social Development Ministry officials there were 76,284 registered elderly Bahraini people aged 60 and above.
Shura’s services committee chairwoman Dr Jameela Al Salman said MPs and the government had valid points to consider.
“The elderly deserve discounts for their services to the nation but the Cabinet will have to determine the discount percentages following a financial impact study on each fee” she added.
Shura’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati said the effect that the discounts will have is unknown.
“We don’t have a complete list of discounted services and we would like to know what effect the discounts will have on state revenues,” he said.
The Bahrain Society for the Care of Parents backed the proposed parliamentary amendments, saying the elderly should be entitled to discounts on all services, rather than a select few.
Al Hekma Retired Society asked MPs to substitute the words “all government services” by “all services determined and updated by the Cabinet”.
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