Civil servants could receive a 50 per cent increase in their monthly fuel allowance under a parliamentary proposal submitted yesterday.
MP Dr Hisham Al Asheeri, who is behind the move, said more than 40,000 civil servants could see their allowances jump from BD20 to BD30.
Giving in writing the reasons behind his proposal, he said the allowance has not been increased for almost three decades despite fuel prices rising by almost 100 per cent.
He added the proposal would achieve justice for all civil servants who are now being forced to pay from their own pockets for work-related fuel expenses.
“The imbalance of financial indicators in Bahrain has caused a gap as oil prices are up while workers’ income is low, leading to huge negative repercussions on people’s standard of living,” said Dr Al Asheeri.
“That is why we seek the increase from the current BD20 to BD30, a 50pc rise, something that would restore equity amongst all civil servants.
“Civil servants are now being forced to pay from their pockets to cover work-related expenses and some may be hesitant to do the work in the best way possible should they be forced to pay from their own pocket.
“This increase comes at a time when everything is expensive and people are finding it difficult to cope.”
The proposal would cost the government around BD4.8 million additionally a year.
Petrol prices were increased in January last year with the price of premium Mumtaz (95 octane) fuel rising from 160 fils to 200 fils per litre, and cheaper Jayyid (91 octane) fuel costing 140 fils per litre from 125 fils.
This was the second fuel price hike in 35 years, the first being in January 2016 when Mumtaz went up from 100 fils to 160 fils per litre and Jayyid from 80 fils to 125 fils per litre.
RETIREMENT
Parliament last month once again approved a proposal to increase wages for public sector employees by 20 per cent.
MPs first approved the proposal in 2013, but it was rejected by the Shura Council earlier this year.
The bill was originally presented by Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain when he was an MP in 2011.
The proposal comes as the government is enforcing austerity measures and more than 8,000 civil servants have gone on early voluntary retirement.
The issue has been referred back to the Shura Council for a second vote and if rejected then it will be sent to a joint National Assembly session.
However, no such session has been held since the bicameral chambers were formed in 2002.
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