Khaberni - Jad Allah Khalaileh, the General Director of the Social Security Corporation, stated on Tuesday that there is a gradual progression in the retirement age, and the shift to age 65 will not happen immediately if the amended Social Security Law project is approved.
Khalaileh clarified to "Al-Mamlaka," that the approach to gradually increase the old-age retirement age will be by six months annually; reaching a maximum of 65 years for males and 60 years for females, starting from January 1, 2028. Thus, the mandatory retirement age "old age" will practically not increase by more than one year for those who are 4-5 years away from retirement. However, those who are currently expected to retire in the year 2037 according to the current law (after 11 years) will have their mandatory retirement at the age of 65.
He added that there will be an increase in the lower salaries of former retirees so that their minimum is no less than 200 dinars, which exceeds the salaries they were earning during employment. Notably, about 20,000 citizens benefitting from these low retirement salaries will benefit from this increase.
The cabinet decided to approve the rationale for a draft law amending the Social Security Law for the year 2026.
The draft law aims to enhance and expand the social protection system to include new categories, achieve a balance between the rights of the insured, and enhance the sustainability of the insurance system.
The draft law also aims to promote the autonomy of the Public Institution of Social Security and the governance of its decision-making mechanisms. The institution will be restructured and its model developed to mirror the model of the Central Bank, by appointing a governor of the institution by a decision of the council of ministers, coupled with the royal decree, with clearly defined duties and powers within the articles of the law. It means that a minister in the government will not chair the board of directors of the institution.
The draft law regulates retirement conditions, where mandatory retirement is the norm and early retirement is the exception; this is to ensure sustainability of the insurance system and to preserve the rights of the insured.
According to the amendments, anyone meeting the conditions for early retirement pension before the date 1/1/2027 has the right to retire whenever he wishes even after the provisions of the amended law come into effect. Also, anyone who meets the conditions for the mandatory retirement pension (old age) by reaching the age of 60 for males and 55 for females, and has completed 180 contributions before 1/1/2028, has the right to retire according to the current law's provisions.
The number of contributions required to qualify for early retirement pension according to the amendments will be 360 contributions, regardless of the age of the insured at the time of application, while the number of contributions required for a mandatory retirement pension (old age) will be 240 contributions instead of 180, starting from 1/1/2028.
