Govt officials, military officers await Cabinet OK for tenure extension

RIYADH: Years have passed since the Shoura Council accepted and submitted to the Council of Ministers a proposal to extend the retirement age by two years for officers in the rank of lieutenants and major-generals, as well as automatically extend the service of university officers to the equivalent of four years for graduates in theoretical disciplines, six years for officers in engineering and technical disciplines, eight years for officers specializing in pharmacy and ten years for officer doctors.
Such periods would be considered in the pension period and subject to pension benefit deductions.
The amendments also include setting the retirement age of lieutenants at 46, for first lieutenants at 48, captains at 50, colonels at 56, commodores at 58, and major generals at 60. The proposal also calls for raising the retirement age by two years or more for all officer ranks, as well as extending the service of university graduates from previous specialties.
The Security Committee at the Shoura Council at the time said raising the age would have a positive impact on military institutions and the country, as well as the military pension fund in that it would allow officers to extend their service by two years upon reaching retirement age and extend for up to four years only.
The amendments adopted by the Shoura Council were proposed by former council member Mohammed Faisal Abu Saq, who is currently minister of state for Shoura Affairs. The Shoura also approved the proposal to add four years to the individual service of those ranked from soldier to chief sergeant, as well as to modify the first paragraph of Article 3 of the law to add subsistence and transportation allowances to the main salary used in calculating pensions.
The Shoura also approved to divide the salary into 30 parts, rather than 35 as is currently the case, and consider the pension as one of these 30 parts. Additionally, when a chief sergeant is promoted to the ranking of officer, the pension can be obtained after 35 years of service or upon reaching the age of 56.
The amendments had passed through various stages of modifications and debates over seven years after being proposed by Dr. Abu Saq. The council, based on a report from the Security Committee, had agreed that allowances issued to officers cannot harm the military retirement fund.
Regarding raising the retirement age, the council agreed there is general consensus among the military institutions about the need to delay the retirement age for about two years for each rank due to medical, professional, and social reasons. The council stressed this extension will strike a positive balance between the prescribed age for each rank and the upper limit for military service in a manner than enhances public interest. The decision of the council came after extensive analysis of the reality of military action and the clear need to raise the retirement age for officers of different ranks.
It is noteworthy that the council approved the proposed amendments in Shabaan 1433 AH for both officers and individual service personnel, as well as approved increasing allowances for transport, risk of infection, compensation for disability, or retirement for officers and individuals. The council at the time stressed the amendments are in favor of officers and individuals in the military sectors, and would be similar to benefits for their counterparts in the civil service.
The Shoura agreed to increase transport allowance for all military officer to be equal to civil ranks, as well as infection and damage compensation for officers from SR300 to SR750. Hazard pay would be increased from SR300 SR600 as well for those who may be at risk as a result of the nature of their work, such as flight crews. The pilot and operator of arms are exempt, as they already receive 35 percent and have each year of flight service calculated as one and a half for retirement, while the rank of lieutenant and captain both receive one-year seniority. The system prohibits two allowances for the same job, and the Shoura Council also agreed to increase infection allowances to individuals from SR200 to SR750 in order to be the same as military and civil service counterparts, as well as danger pay from SR400 to SR600.
The council also agreed to raise compensation for officers and individuals who retire because of their ability to work or for meeting the statutory age or due to death, from three months to six months. The rank of general will be treated as the same grade as minister, while lieutenant-general will be treated as a higher rank of excellence as well. Major-general will be treated as the 15th rank, and colonel will receive a monthly transport allowance of SR1,200. Colonel, lieutenant-general, and major will receive an allowance of SR900, while ranks of captain to first-lieutenant will receive an allowance of SR700, according to the amendments.
At the time, the council confirmed that such amendments will present an unprecedented shift in bonuses and benefits offered to officers and military personnel, and such bonuses aim to equate between all military ranks with regards to allowances for infection, hazard pay, and damages. Increased salaries for military personnel will motivate them to work and achieve advancements, while promoting justice in the military sector. The council also stressed the importance of such raises due to the nature of work in the military fields, especially for individual personnel, as it will boost their entitled salaries throughout their military service. Rather than offer end-of-service compensation in the amount of three month’s basic salary, the benefit would be increased to six months’ of total salary, including allowances and bonuses, which will help create financial stability for retirees and ease the burdens after retirement.