Bahrain slams ‘No pension’ rumours

Manama : “Would pensions be scrapped in Bahrain?” A question raised by many citizens on local social networks, following indirect statements made by a senior state official lately, hinting that “the country’s pensions plans would be completely revised, in line with the existing challenges.”

This was stated by Minister of Finance Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa during last week’s Parliament session.

His statements came in reply to queries by the Council’s Financial and Economic Affairs Committee Chairman Abdulrahman Buali.

Buali had asked the Minister about the rumours looming over extending retirement age in Bahrain and cancelling pensions.

While replying verbally, the Minister mentioned that “every retirement system in the entire world requires to be revised once in a while,” adding that the matter would be discussed with the Legislative Authority.

This made a huge buzz online, as rumours rapidly spread among social media users, claiming that “pensions would be soon scrapped, similar to a number of subsidies, in order to overcome the deficit in the country’s budget and reduce public debt.”

Speaking to DT News yesterday, MP Buali confirmed that “a request to hold an open discussion on the matter in the Parliament, in the presence of the Minister and other state officials, will be submitted to the council’s speaker today (Tuesday).”

“Majority of MPs will vote for the request to hold the discussion on the next session on May 10,” said a confident Buali. “We’re citizens in the first place and we’re concerned about this matter as much as any common citizens. But no information was provided to us showing the government’s plans in this regard. That’s why we’re requesting to have an open discussion on the matter next week in the presence of government’s representatives, mainly Finance Minister, to clear the air.”

The legislator added, “As far as we know, the matter is being discussed within the government since 2012. Yet, it was not referred to us or the MPs of the previous legislative term (2010-2014).”