Around 86 percent of the government pensioners receives below SR2,000 per month, according to a statement made at the Shoura Council during its 14th regular meeting held under the chairmanship of Council Vice President Mohamed Amin Jaafri.

It was also pointed out that some 40 percent of the pensioners do not have proper housing accommodation.

The observations were made when the Shoura Council approved the amendments to the civil service retirement scheme (CSRS) on the recommendations made by the Finance Committee headed by its chairman Hossam Ankary.

Speaking to the press, Assistant Speaker of the Shoura Council Yahya bin Abdullah Al-Samhaan said the amendments were aimed to update the CSRS scheme in the light of socioeconomic developments witnessed by the Saudi society in the last 40 years.

Members of the council said the minimum pension does not cope with the requirements of the present time and suggested that the government should give more support to the Pension Fund.

They also see that the retirement age of women is not appropriate as their life cycle differs totally from that of men.

On the other hand, the Shoura Council urged the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to provide incentives and funding programs to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in the tourism sector.

On Tuesday, the Shoura Council called on the Control and Investigation Board (CIB) to speed up completion of a study on a project against the misuse of office.

Assistant Speaker Yahya bin Abdulla Al-Samhaan said the council called for more support to the budget of the CIB and also for more staff to carry out its missions effectively.

The council approved the audiovisual media system after listening to the viewpoints of the committee for culture, media, tourism and antiquities read out by its chairman Ahmed Al-Zailai.

The council approved a draft study on the commercial bankruptcy system prepared by the economy and energy committee.

Meanwhile, new Shoura Council member Mohammed Al-Hiazaa said: “The Shoura Council plays a predominant role in the performance of government agencies.”