Jordanians say lawmakers’ pension benefits bill ‘provocative, unfair’

AMMAN – Several citizens across the Kingdom on Saturday said they were enraged by the lawmakers’ move to grant themselves lifetime pensions equal to that of ministers. 

Interviewed by The Jordan Times over the phone, a random sample of Jordanians said the bill of retirement benefits endorsed by MPs and senators at a joint session on Thursday was "controversial and very unpopular", a criticism that was echoed by a deputy, who rejected the piece of legislation. 

The controversial bill was rejected by His Majesty King Abdullah in 2012 after it triggered public outcry. 

If the draft law goes into effect, lawmakers’ pensions will be calculated based on ministers’ basic salaries, which is JD3,000 per month.

The deputies and senators endorsed a provision that sets a minimum of seven years of service in the post as an eligibility requirement applied to MPs, senators and ministers. In addition, the bill granted all lawmakers who were members of Parliament on May 20, 2010 and henceforth the same benefits. 

A government official, who preferred to remain unnamed, said the cost of lawmakers' permanent pension would cost the budget around JD6 million a year, adding that this liability will increase every new parliamentary term. 

Abdullah Abu Wardeh, from Ajloun, accused lawmakers of running after personal interests while ignoring the interests of the Jordanian public.

Abu Wardeh, a military retiree, cited the two-week teachers' strike last month, adding that teachers were seeking what he said were reasonable financial benefits but MPs were against such demands because they said the Treasury could not bear additional burdens. 

"But when it comes to lawmakers’ interests, the Treasury can afford to pay millions," he added, describing the move as provocative to all Jordanians. 

Um Ahed Bqain, a 72-year-old housewife in Karak, said lawmakers should instead have worked on proposing development schemes that would create jobs for Jordanian graduates.

“Why do they need to give themselves pensions?” she asked. 

The remarks of the Ajloun and Karak residents were echoed by university student Hamzeh Burhan, who said that MPs and senators made the wrong decision. 

“This decision is totally against the will of Jordanians,” Burhan said. 

Aqaba resident Emad Abu Ghazaleh said he is “very upset” with the legislators’ recent decision, which has completely “erased the traces of trust he had in parliamentarians”.

“Parliament members are supposed to bear the responsibility of serving the public, but they are seeking their own benefits and financial security,” the 48-year-old merchant told The Jordan Times, adding fighting unemployment should be their priority.

The father of two said he votes in all parliamentary elections, but if the lifelong pension decision is passed, he will never participate in any elections again. The bill needs the approval of the King to go into effect.

“I will convince my daughters and all the ones I know not to vote,” he said, adding that the move will increase the gap between the lower and the upper classes.

Sireen Abu Al Basal, a 25-year-old Balqa resident agreed.

“Those who truly want to serve the country will ask for nothing in return,” she said, adding that many of those working under the Dome seek social prestige and financial privileges.

An employee at a private university, Abu Al Basal described the decision as “unfair” since other public sector employees have to work for more years to become eligible for retirement pensions, noting that she has not seen any remarkable achievements that can be credited to the17th Parliament.

But Wafaa Abzakh thinks there should be an assessment of the performance of lawmakers, and those who have worked hard and been committed to serving the public should be financially rewarded.

“The 16th and 17th parliamentary cycles included good lawmakers, who made good on the promises they made during the election campaign and have truly served the people,” said the resident of Bayader Wadi Sir in west Amman.

MP Tariq Khouri, who voted against the draft bill, said the proposal to grant lawmakers permanent pensions is unjust and against common sense. 

The only positive article in the draft law is that MPs, senators and ministers should serve a minimum of seven years in the public sector to be eligible for the benefits, while previously no period of service was required, he noted. 

Khouri told The Jordan Times that bill planners should have reduced the pension of ministers to be equal to that of MPs and senators instead of raising the pension of lawmakers to be equal to that of ministers, which is JD3,000 a month. 

MPs’ retirement previously used to be JD1,500 a month.