Municipal councillors and Capital Trustees Board members have renewed calls for allowances, claiming they incur significant personal expenses while carrying out their public duties despite serving full-time in elected office.
The demand comes a decade after Parliament backed substantial pay rises and allowances for municipal representatives in 2016, only for the proposals to be blocked by the Shura Council as Bahrain grappled with an austerity drive.
Under the current system, municipal and Capital Trustees Board chairmen receive a monthly salary of BD2,000 plus a BD300 car allowance while vice-chairmen receive BD1,800 and members BD1,500 with no additional allowances.
Meanwhile, MPs and Shura Council members receive a monthly salary of BD2,000, while chairmen are paid BD3,500 and vice-chairmen BD2,500. In addition, regular members receive a BD1,200 representation allowance, BD300 social allowance and BD750 car allowance every month, taking their total monthly package to BD4,250, excluding any other benefits.
The allowances received by chairmen and vice-chairmen have not been disclosed.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said councillors were not asking for salary increases but reimbursement for expenses incurred while serving the public.
“There are no phone or fuel allowances despite us using our own equipment and cars,” he told the GDN.
“There are numerous employees working under us who receive higher overall packages than we do because they also receive phone, fuel and social allowances.
“I understand that the country has gone through an austerity drive. We are not demanding pay rises, although there is certainly room to discuss that in the future. What we are asking for is help to cover the costs of doing our jobs.”
Mr Abdullatif revealed that he was facing a financial burden, adding that he was currently using his son’s car while his own vehicle was awaiting repairs.
Mr Abdullatif
“We were expected to leave our jobs following the expiration of our four-year term, which in this case has become five years because of the extension. Throughout that time we will continue paying many work-related expenses from our own pockets,” he said.
“I have served for four years as a councillor and another four as chairman. During that period I bought around 10 mobile phones and seven hard drives simply to store documents and respond to residents’ requests. The support staff finish work in the afternoon and we continue working well beyond official hours.”
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar said modest allowances would help councillors continue serving their communities without suffering financially.
Mr Al Naar
“Councillors have to take leave from their original jobs to serve the public,” he said.
“They should at least receive allowances that help match what they were earning before entering municipal office. This is about supporting public service, not enriching anyone.”
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah described the request as reasonable, but stressed that any changes should be carefully considered.
Mr Tarradah
“The request follows logical reasons,” he said.
“Any amendments would require a thorough study while taking into account the country’s financial situation and regional circumstances. If such measures can encourage capable people to contest municipal elections and serve on the Capital Trustees Board in future terms, then I fully support that objective.”
Municipal representatives believe introducing allowances would strengthen local government by attracting experienced candidates while ensuring those already serving are not forced to personally subsidise the cost of public service.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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