(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The Sharjah Consultative Council on Thursday approved a new draft law regarding the civil service in the emirate, including a salary increment.
The draft law, implying amendments to Law No1/2007 and Law No 5/2001, will be referred to the Sharjah Executive Council for final approval.
Tariq bin Khadem, Chairman of the Human Resources Department, said the amendments are in response to the instructions of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to amend the Sharjah Government's laws in line with those of the federal government.
A special panel of HR experts has been formed to put into effect the directives of Shaikh Sultan to increase the salaries of Sharjah Government employees as of January this year. "Studying the issue, we have had a number of problems that need to be addressed. Of these is the salary increment we are through now."
Explaining, he said that on May 1, 2007, the Ruler ordered a 30 per cent increment of the gross salaries of the emirate's government employees for the benefit of the nationals, particularly when pensioned.
"Another increment of 70 per cent of the basic salary has been ordered on January 1, 2008, yet it was only considered as a bonus." Then the bonus was ordered to be part of the gross salary and salaries of the government employees to be of the same percentage of the federal government.
On February 1, 2009, the bonus given to the federal government employees was added to the basic salary which became higher than the salary of the Sharjah government. "However, there was no need to amend the local basic salary since the gross salary in both governments was quite similar, and has no effect on pensions," he said. Finally, on January 1, 2012, Shaikh Sultan ordered the increment of the salaries of Sharjah government employees as is the case with the federal government without considering the basic salary or percentage.
Bin Khadem added that the draft law would help avoid any problem in the future and maintain the employees' rights upon pension. "The cash allowance of leave balance, which depends on the basic salary, does not represent 50 per cent of the gross salary in the current law. The proposed 75 per cent rise shall then be calculated in view of the average basic salary for the grades," he noted.
Later, the Sharjah Consultative Council, as part of its 8th ordinary session of the 7th legislative chapter, examined the policy of the Social Service Department in the presence of Afaf Al Marri, Chairperson of the department, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council.
