FNC members to raise pension payments, marriage grants

Abu Dhabi: Delays faced by some retirees, a maximum pension for private sector workers and the issue of self-employed Emiratis who are denied access to marriage fund grants will be among the questions put to ministers by members of the Federal National Council on Tuesday.

Hamad Ahmad Al Rahoumi, an FNC member from Dubai, is expected to pose a question to Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, on why some retirees faced delays in receiving their pension payments.

“Many new retirees complained on radio shows and to me personally that their pension payouts were delayed for up to three months,” Al Rahoumi told Gulf News on Sunday.

“This is unacceptable as these retirees have bills to pay and obligations to meet. But the General Pensions and Social Security Authority has left retired citizens tearing their hair out,” Al Rahoumi said.

Al Rahoumi will put another question to Al Tayer as to why the General Pensions and Social Security Authority was not prompt to clarify reports that pension laws would be changed.

Al Rahoumi will ask Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, State Minister and Chairman of the Marriage Fund, why self-employed citizens such as fishermen and farmers who are not registered with the General Pensions and Social Security Authority, are denied access to marriage grants.

The initiative grants Dh70,000 to grooms — traditionally responsible for bearing the cost of the wedding — who meet the criteria.

The grant is designed to help young couples bear the burden and cost of marriage and to encourage citizen-to-citizen marriages, as the condition of the grant is that the applicant must be married to a compatriot, otherwise the grant is not eligible.

Marwan Ahmad Bin Galita, a member from Dubai, will put a question to Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, who is also deputy chairman of the General Pensions and Social Security Authority, on determining a maximum pension for private sector employees.

Members of the House will also debate the budget and sector-wise financial allocation for the next fiscal year

In October, the cabinet approved the 2016 budget with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, saying the UAE government strategies are following the direction of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to utilise all resources to ensure the happiness of Emiratis as well as strengthen the image of the UAE.

“Investing in Emiratis and meeting their needs are the basis of government work and has a priority in the national agenda to reach the goals of the UAE 2021 Vision. Our priorities in the 2016 budget will be geared towards social development, education and health. Maintaining the first rank requires having all resources that enable the Emirati people and its government to reach these goals,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

The 2016 federal government budget gives priority to services that touch the lives of people and more than 50 per cent of the budget has been allocated to sectors such as education, social development, public services and health.

While education received the maximum allocation of 21.2 per cent of the federal budget, social development public services and health were allocated 15.4 per cent, 11.1 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively.