Qatar: The pension law has sparked popular anger

A state of anger swept Qatar’s social media sites after the Qatari Shura Council issued, yesterday in the regular weekly session, the draft laws of social insurance and military retirement, in opposition to the law that many see as unfair and does not grant citizens a decent life in light of the exorbitant wages paid to foreigners and to members of the Shura Council themselves who are slandering the Qatari citizen.

Qatari activists believe the new law is unjust to the Qatari people and that its flaws exceed its distinctions. They denounced the appearance of celebrities and supporters of the regime in the media, and thanked Prince Tamim bin Hamad and their blessing of the people, despite the apparent flaws in the new law and the clear injustice.

In the same context, Al-Waleed bin Mohammed, a Qatari, said on his personal Twitter account that the comparison between the members of the Shura Council and the retirees is shocking, as the retiree receives 15,000 riyals, while the head of the council receives 200,000 riyals a month, his deputy reaches 150,000 riyals a month and the member earns 100,000 riyals a month. He went on to ask: Is that equity?

He added, “The pensioner is a head of a household who served this country and deserves a decent life. He had paid his retirement contribution, and if he needed an increase from his share in the country’s benefits, what did I benefit from a member who takes 100,000 or 200,000?. The problem is that the people are supporting the strong against the weak, the people are justifying the Shura Council’s decisions, and there are people who are savoring the pain and suffering of others”.

Officials see no further than the walls of their homes and car windows
On his Twitter account, Fahd Al-Faisal said: Our local problem is that officials do not see anything beyond the walls of their homes and the windows of their cars. He added, Jobs are guaranteed for them and for all their children. Land is guaranteed, and they are close to the authority and empowered, and in permanent travel if they are officials or retirees.

He added that if Qatar’s population was large and the financial resources were small, it would be different. He explained that the salaries of some foreign employees and the salaries of some entities and individuals are considered huge riches that are paid for the simple thing of effort, and then are lowered for the retirees in his country, which we find severe and painful.