SHARJAH // Government officials have welcomed a move by the emirate to increase their pensions by two thirds, saying it would guarantee them a decent living once they retire.
Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, the Ruler of Sharjah, ordered the minimum pension to be raised on Monday to Dh10,000 per month from Dh6,000 per month.
The increase will come into effect from March 1.
"This would ease fears among employees about their life after retirement," said Saeed al Kaabi, the head of the Sharjah Education Zone. "The new increment is enough to give one a good standard of living." The decision was likely to raise enthusiasm among government employees, he said.
Pensions are awarded according to the retiree’s salary while they were working, said Tariq bin Khadim, the Sharjah human resources department’s director general. There were 660 retirees receiving pensions from the emirate in total and 593 of them were getting the minimum amount at present, he said.
