Jordan- 'MPs' lifetime pensions to cost JD4 million annually' 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Lifetime pensions for members of Parliament are set to cost the state budget between JD3 million to JD4 million a year, according to estimates by an informed source.

Explaining that out of 180 members of Parliament chambers, the Upper House and the Lower House, the source, who requested anonymity, said around 100 lawmakers would be legible for the pensions as they do not receive pensions from previous jobs.

The source told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that the minimum monthly retirement salary is expected to be JD1,500.

The number of deputies is currently 120, while the number of senators is 60.

The lifetime pensions of legislators are enough to employ around 1,000 Jordanians in the public sector with a monthly salary of at least JD300, according to calculations.

Asked about the cost of pensions for serving and former ministers, the source indicated that there are approximately 350 former and serving ministers in Jordan, who are alive and whose overall yearly salaries are around JD12 million.

Late last month, deputies won their months-long battle with senators over amendments to the Civil Retirement Law, as they became eligible to receive lifetime pensions.

The Lower House's insistence on lifetime pensions has drawn anger among the public, who criticised lawmakers for adding more burdens on a budget that suffers of over JD1 billion in deficit.

Previously, the Senate had twice rejected deputies' decision to grant pensions to all parliamentarians, insisting instead on granting them only to those who had served for a certain length of time, but the dispute had been resolved during a joint session for both chambers when an overwhelming majority of members of both Houses voted in favour of the Lower House's amendments to the law.

Of the 155 legislators present in the session, 120 voted in support of deputies' proposal to reinstate the 1999 amendments to the 1959 Civil Retirement Law, under which all members of Parliament are entitled to pensions for life regardless of the duration of their service.