Abu Dhabi: A member of the Federal National Council yesterday demanded that senior civil servants and the military receive equal retirement benefits.
“Senior citizens are the founders of this country and should be honoured for their long, dedicated service to the country. Their minimum reward is to receive equal retirement benefits with their peers,” Dr Abdullah Hamad Al Shamsi told the House.
He put a question to Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and deputy chairman of the General Authority for Pensions and Social Security on why senior citizens who went into retirement before January 1, 2008 were not covered by the payment increase ordered by the government at that date.
Al Shamsi said an assistant undersecretary was being paid Dh14,000 as a monthly retirement salary, which would not satisfy his needs given the huge increase in cost of living and inflation. “A big fish to feed his family would cost him Dh500. How can he manage to satisfy needs of his family, how much can he pay for their schooling. We have to feel for these people,” Al Shamsi told the House.
Al Tayer told the FNC it was not the General Authority for Pensions and Social Security which decides increases in retirement payment and that the decision has to be made by the Government.
Al Shamsi responded that the minister was talking as if the government would live in a continent other than ours. “Were is equality and social justice,” he said, quoting article 14 of the constitution, which states that equality, social justice and providing safety, security and equal opportunities to all citizens are pillars on which the community is grounded.
“Solidarity and shared sympathies are close links that tie the emirates together,” Al Shamsi quoted the constitution as stating.
Ali Eisa Al Nuaimi, a member from Ajman, question Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, on ways to promote local tourism.
Al Nuaimi demanded that the National Tourism and Antiquities Council protect Emiratis’ right to tourism, in keeping with the UN Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. “Family, youth, student and senior citizens’ tourism and tourism for people with disabilities should be encouraged and facilitated. Also, widespread access to leisure, travel and holidays should be developed with the support of public authorities,” he quoted the Code of Ethics for Tourism, declared by the UN World Tourism Organisation.
Al Nuaimi suggested that the government facilitate granting citizens special hotel rates and air ticket prices. “Emiratis complained local airlines and hotels offered high rates compared with those granted to foreign travellers. This showed why domestic tourism contributed only 10 per cent of hotel occupancy.”
Shaikh Nahyan admitted that insufficient funds for the National Tourism and Antiquities Council were a stumbling block in the way of fulfilling its goals.
