Tuesday, Dec 22, 2015

Abu Dhabi

New pension laws will offer equal treatment to Emirati workers in the government, local department and the private sector, a top official vowed on Tuesday.

“Equal pension benefits and obligations will be guaranteed in the new pension laws for Emirati employees in the federal government, local departments and the private sector to encourage movement between jobs in these sectors,” Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, State Minister for Financial Affairs, said.

Al Tayer, also deputy chairman of the General Pension and Social Security Authority, was responding to a question by Marwan Ahmad Bin Galita, an FNC member from Dubai, on determining a maximum pension for private sector employees.

Bin Galita demanded that the pension ceiling of Dh50,000 for workers in the private sector be removed. “It is unfair that an Emirati employed by the private sector gets a maximum of Dh50,000 as a pension payout, while another citizen who put the same service and has the same skills in the public sector receives a pension of Dh300,000,” Bin Galita said.

Hamad Ahmad Al Rahoumi, an FNC member from Dubai, posed a question to Al Tayer on why some retirees faced delays in receiving pension payouts.

“Many new retirees complained to radio shows and to me personally that their pension payouts were delayed for up to three months,” Al Rahoumi said

“This is unacceptable as these retirees have bills to pay and obligations to meet. But the General Pensions and Social Security Authority has left retired citizens tearing their hair out,” Al Rahoumi said.

Al Tayer said the delay was caused by certain departments that failed to submit complete documents of pension beneficiaries. And to avoid delay in pension, an advance payout is made to a retiree until all documents are finalised.

However, the member said, there should be no delay in pensions and any failures on the part of employers should be reported to the Cabinet.

Al Rahoumi also asked Al Tayer why the General Pensions and Social Security Authority was not prompt in clarifying reports that pension laws would be changed.

The minister said he would not comment on rumours or leaks. “As far as changes to the pension laws are concerned, we have not reached the stage of a draft law as yet. All we have now is a number of proposals, which are discussed with the authorities concerned. We hope discussions will complete soon and a draft law is made and then presented to the FNC for approval,” Al Tayer said.

Al Rahoumi asked Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, State Minister and Chairman of the Marriage Fund, why self-employed citizens such as fishermen and farmers, who are not registered with the General Pensions and Social Security Authority, are denied access to the marriage grants.

Al Shamsi replied in a letter to the House that a certificate from the Pensions Authority is a must to sanction the marriage grant and ensure a citizen is eligible for it.

The member insisted that the minister show up in the council in the next session to answer his questions.

The initiative grants Dh70,000 to bridegrooms — traditionally responsible for bearing the cost of the wedding — who meet the criteria.

The grant is designed to help young couples bear the cost of marriage and to encourage citizen-to-citizen marriages, as the condition of the grant is that the applicant must be married to a compatriot, otherwise he is not eligible for the grant.

By Samir Salama Associate Editor

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