Vote on pay rise for civil servants in Bahrain shelved

A vote on a proposal to give civil servants an automatic annual pay rise has been postponed.

Under existing regulations, pay rises are given according to special assessment under rules of the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) following the Premier’s approval.

Following an amendment by Parliament to include a three per cent annual increase, the Shura Council’s legislative and legal affairs committee also added an automatic promotion as well.

However, it was withdrawn during yesterday’s Shura session as several members voiced opposition to both amendments to the 2010 Civil Service Law.

Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain, who is politically in charge of the CSB, said stating pay rises in law would “tie the government’s hands”.

He added: “The current rules are more flexible because stating it in law, which is solid, doesn’t allow us freedom to decide on how to give pay rises which could vary depending on employee assessment.”

CSB president Ahmed Al Zayed, who was present at yesterday’s weekly session, also added that they were “committed to giving pay rises” to meet living standards.

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