Deputies on Wednesday agreed to deduct 15 per cent of their salaries for the Treasury to address the difficult economic situation, for six months starting the end of May.
During their deliberations over the government’s policy statement, a majority of MPs voted in favour of a proposal by nine of their colleagues to deduct a certain percentage of lawmakers’ salaries to support the troubled Treasury.
Citing the difficult economic situation the country is going through, several MPs, including Mefleh Khazaaleh (Mafraq, 1st District), called on their colleagues to cooperate with the government to address the economic dilemma, suggesting that a certain percentage of deputies’ and senators’ salaries be given to the state Treasury.
Khazaaleh proposed that JD500 be deducted from the monthly salaries of MPs and senators, and that 15 per cent of the salaries of public employees earning over JD1,000 a month be given to the Treasury. Voicing appreciation for deputies’ decision, Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh, who attended the session, noted that his advisers and all directors serving in the Prime Ministry have agreed to give 15 per cent of their salaries to the Treasury.
Last week, the government announced a set of austerity measures to address the state budget deficit that touched on the premier’s and Cabinet members’ salaries, which will see a 20 per cent cut.
Two days ago, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben and officers with the rank of major general decided to give 15 per cent of their salaries to the Treasury, for six months starting the end of this month.
On Tuesday, Public Security Department Director Lt. Gen. Hussein Majali, his deputy and assistants, and Director General of the Gendarmerie Department Lt. Gen. Tawfiq Tawalbeh, his deputy and assistants decided to give 15 per cent of their salaries to the Treasury for six months, starting from the end of May.
