AMMAN — Recent local media reports, stated that the
Social Security Corporation (SSC) intends to review the amended draft Social Security Law, which it had submitted
to the government for approval, an assertion the corporation denies.
اضافة اعلان
Such news started to appear after the sudden
resignation of the former SSC director-general, Hazem Al-Rahahleh, following
discontent with the amendments, mainly those related to subscription to the
SSC, retirement age, pensions, and health insurance through the corporation.
According to a well-informed government source, the
corporation does indeed wish to revise the draft Social Security Law, which the
new director general, Mohamad Al-Tarawneh, did not see.
The source said
that SSC approved at the beginning of September 47 amendments to the law
governing it; most notable among them: stopping early retirement of new
subscribers whose contributions do not exceed seven years, making the
retirement age 62 for men and 59 for women.
Currently, the age for early retirement is 55 for
men who have contributed 252 months to the SSC, and 52 for women with 228
contributions.
As per another amendment, early retirees who earn
less than JD300 a month are allowed to return to the labor market to earn a
living, but were denied that right before.
SSC spokesperson
Shaman Al-Majali told
Jordan
News that the law was approved by the Board of Directors of the corporation
in late August, beginning of September, and it was submitted to the Council of
Ministers for approval.
Majali, however, pointed out that SSC was not
advised by the government to review the law, “and we do not know what decision
the Council of Ministers has taken so far”.
Insurance and social protection expert Musa
Al-Subaihi told
Jordan News that SSC had approved the final form of the
draft, “which means tacit approval to follow the legislative stages for its
approval”.
“In the event that the institution wants to withdraw
the law, and this depends on its board of directors, a decision must be issued
by the SSC Council to that effect,” he added.
He stressed that neither the general manager of the
corporation nor the chairman of its board of directors has the authority to
“withdraw the project from the government unless either of them is officially
authorized by the council”.
Former MP Khaled Bakkar told
Jordan News that
if SSC asks for the draft bill to be given back to it for review, the
government must “have clear reasons”, adding that the “tampering with the draft
will hopefully not affect the stability and sustainability of the SSC
resources”.
“We hope that the SSC will expand the provision of services,
to cover the unemployed, and increase the period of maternity leave. These
services will improve the contributors’ trust in and relationship with the
corporation,” Bakkar said.
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