'Ex-ministers with 10 years of service eligible for lifetime pensions'

AMMAN — Resigned ministers who served for at least 10 years in official institutions or who are already in military or civil retirement are eligible for lifetime pensions, according to the Finance Ministry.

Ali Masri, director of the retirement and pensions department at the Finance Ministry, said on Friday that retired ministers eligible for pensions must have spent 10 years in public service, which includes public institutions, ministries, public official departments and municipalities, adding that those who are already military or civil retirees are entitled to accrue pensions at the level of minister pensions.

Cabinet members who served for fewer than 10 years can ask, after leaving office, for their time in service to be included in the social security system, Masri added.

The current government amended the 2018 amended retirement law, which went into effect in October 2018, under which ministers’ entitlement to lifetime pension is linked to at least 10 years of public service.

Masri's statements to the Jordan News Agency, Petra have come in response to citizens' questions on the impact of the recent reshuffle.  

Government sources said that the reshuffle is a necessary step to deal with the requirements of this phase, which will focus on recruiting young people as well as splitting a number of ministries, and has followed the resignation of the former education minister.