JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers ordered the payment of a number of allowances and bonuses for faculty members in universities in the Kingdom in its weekly meeting held at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who chaired the meeting, congratulated the people of Saudi Arabia, Arabs and Muslims in the rest of the world on the occasion of the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, said acting Culture and Information Minister Saud Al-Mutahammi in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency immediately after the meeting.
The allowances approved by the council include the rare specialization allowance - to be paid monthly at the rate of 20 to 40 percent of the basic pay every month. The Saudi staff at new universities would also be given a special allowance as a work incentive. The members of the new university council would get a sitting allowance of SR400 per sitting. The total amount of sitting allowance that a member is entitled to in a financial year will not exceed SR10,000. A faculty council member would be paid at the rate of SR300 per sitting and its annual amount not exceeds SR9,000. Special allowances will also be distributed to those who are distinguished for their excellence, award winners at local, regional and international levels, and those occupying command positions, Al-Mutahammi said.
The council also ordered ex gratia payments to those who have served 20 years or more in positions such as professor, associate professor or lecturer at the rate of one month's salary for every year's service. Another SR5 billion has been allocated to the Higher Education Ministry for speeding up the construction of housing units for the faculty members in campuses.
The council also decided to reduce customs duty for the import of rawhide at 20 percent a year and total duty exemption after five years.
The council also commended King Abdullah's meeting and discussions with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Kahlifa Al Thani, who visited the Kingdom on Saturday to boost the strong ties of mutual relations between the two countries, the minister said.
