Senators reject MPs’ version of retirement law

AMMAN — The Senate on Thursday rejected the Lower House’s amendments to the draft civil service retirement law for the second time.

The two Houses of Parliament must now hold a joint session to reach an agreement over the bill, in line with Article 92 of the Constitution. 

A two-thirds majority of the members of both Houses present should agree on a version of the law for it to be endorsed.

The senators disagreed with the deputies’ move to make lawmakers’ basic salaries equal to those of ministers, arguing that these decisions belong in the budget and the regulations for public sector structure rather than the retirement law.

Senators also cited the differences in the nature and duties of the work of ministers and that of lawmakers, since ministers cannot be involved in the private sector while in office, unlike lawmakers, who are only prohibited from engaging in contracts with the government through their private ventures.

Members of the Upper House insisted on their decision to award civil retirement pensions to those who became members of Parliament as of May 20, 2010, to enable 17 senators and deputies from the 16th Parliament to receive pensions.

Senators also rejected including unclassified services, or those by contract basis or lump sum salary, performed by unclassified public sector employees, under work subject to pensions.

But the Senate agreed with the Lower House’s decision to add mandatory military service to the army service performed by civil servants and counted in their pension, provided that the required salary deductions are paid.

Also during Thursday’s session, senators endorsed the draft administrative courts law as referred by the Lower House.