The rate of retirees who have died within nine years of their end of service was 41.5 percent of the total retired employees registered at the Public Pension Agency (PPA).

According to the PPA data, cited by local media, retirees whose age groups are between 45-49 and 50-54 form the majority of retirees at 43.3 percent.

The first age group represents 20.8 percent while the second accounts for 22.5 percent of the retired employees registered with the PPA.

Those who retired between 55-59 represented 8.5 percent while the 60-64 age group accounted for 20.4 percent of the total retirees. It may be recalled that 60 is the mandatory age for retirement for civilian staff and some military ranks. However, those who retire after this age did not exceed 2.9 percent of the total retired employees, the PPA data said.

Last year, the Shoura Council discussed a bill on the extension of the retirement age for civilian employees from 60 to 62 that would have benefited an estimated 850,000 workers on the verge of retirement.

In this context, an expert said the extension of the retirement age would enable the government to benefit from the extensive experience and expertise of employees.