The higher committee on extraordinary pensions headed by Finance Minister Dr. Youssef Boutros Ghali has agreed on offering grants in a number of cases in efforts to improve living conditions among pen...

The higher committee on extraordinary pensions headed by Finance Minister Dr. Youssef Boutros Ghali has agreed on offering grants in a number of cases in efforts to improve living conditions among pensioners suffering extreme living conditions.  Approximately 1000 pensioners have revealed dire living conditions including accidents and those killed in action. The committee has agreed to grant extraordinary pensions to 12 former syndicate members as part of state celebrations marking labor day. Dr. Ghali has also agreed to include critical cases requiring intense social care withing the care system of the pension fund and who have retired prior to 2001. The Minister had noted the inequity in certain critical situations who have been excluded from the extraordinary retirement fund.  He said pensioners who receive contributions of less than 300 pounds monthly and who have children receiving education. Undersecretary and President of the Government Fund Rashad Salem has reiterated that the rules binding extraordinary pensions are applied to government employees, the public sector employees and their beneficiaries, as well as private sector employees who have served in the public sector for a period of no less than three years.   He added that the committee is working on improving pensions in some cases where pensioners are supporting sick relatives who need long term treatment and other handicapped family members.  In such dire situations, pensioners can merge the amounts allocated to cover illness expenses for both the pensioner and that of a family member.  He said cases that are not bound to insurance payment terms are reviewed by the social insurance department that will consequently take the decision in that respect. The Prime Minister is currently reviewing the cases that require special treatment. Head of the government insurance fund announced that the pensioner can merge between the pension and the injury pension in the newly amended law without restrictions on ceilings.  Talaat Ismail, head of the public sector insurance has noted that the social insurance law has defined the monthly contributions on basic and unstable wages.  He noted that contributions have been amended from 1.5% of the wage on arrears within the fiscal year, and raised to 3%, to an annual amount paid on arrears within one month of due date. (source : Ministry of Finance(