Jordanian king rejects amended civil retirement draft law

His Majesty King Abdullah II, on Monday, issued a Royal Decree rejecting the amended 2014 civil retirement draft law which was approved by the parliament and gives its members lifetime pensions equal to that of ministers.
The King sent a letter to Prime Minister, Abdullah Ensour, ordering the government to send the bill to the constitutional court to verify its constitutionality and restudy the draft again with full objectivity and transparency while taking into consideration the current difficult economic hardships the Kingdom is experiencing. The King said Jordan faces unprecedented regional challenges that constitute an obstacle to aspired economic growth; a thing that requires the government to adopt effective economic policies necessary to spur growth, rational public expenditure and boost socio-economic justice.