The Shura Council's Committee on Services convened its meeting this morning (Sunday: May 5, 2013) presided over by its Chairman, H.E. Mr. Abdurrahman Abdul-Salam, in the presence of representatives from the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI).

The committee discussed with GOSI representatives a bill of law for cancelation of Article No.: 19 of Law No.: 13/1975 regarding the organizing of pensions and annuities for retired government employees. The committee decided to address the Council's Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs in order to seek its opinion regarding the bill of law before it continues the discussion of the said bill of law in its next meeting.

The committee also discussed a bill of law pertaining to issuance of a Welfare Card to citizens who have a limited income. The committee decided to compile its report thereof and to submit it to the Councils' Office for its inclusion in upcoming meetings. The said bill of law has been discussed by the Shura Council for the third time so far and this bill aims to help citizens who have a limited income individuals and families by alleviating the onus of livelihood from them by cancelling some charges and/or waiving some installments of the Ministry of Housing and Works, electric and water bills. Low income segments of the community are categorized into three levels according to relative income per family.

The committee also discussed a bill of law for amending clause (E) of Article No.: 1 of Law No.: 13/1975 regarding the organizing of pensions and annuities for retired government employees prepared in the light of a proposal from the House of Representatives. The committee decided to prepare its report on the said bill of law to be submitted to the Council's Office for inclusion in one of its upcoming meetings.