Khaberni - On Wednesday, the House of Representatives referred an amended bill for the Social Security Law for the year 2026 to the Parliamentary Labor Committee for discussion.
The House of Representatives commenced, on Wednesday, the first reading of the amended bill for the Social Security Law for the year 2026.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mazen Al-Qadi, confirmed that the committee will discuss the Social Security bill through an extensive national dialogue, by listening to all viewpoints without exception, including labor and professional unions, political parties, civil society organizations, economists and experts, chambers of commerce and industry, and employers' representatives.
Al-Qadi stated that all diverse opinions will be listened to and discussed thoroughly and responsibly in the national interest, which will benefit and meet the desired goals, through the improvement of the bill and its presentation in a manner that reflects its importance.
The Cabinet decided on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, to approve the justifications for the amended bill of the Social Security Law for the year 2026.
The bill aims to enhance and broaden the social protection system by including new categories, balance the rights of the insured, and strengthen the sustainability of the insurance system.
The bill also aims to enhance the independence of the Public Institution for Social Security and the governance of its decision-making mechanisms. It will involve restructuring the institution and developing a model similar to that of the Central Bank, whereby the governor of the institution is appointed by a Cabinet decree coupled with the Royal Will, with clear definitions of his duties and powers within the law's clauses; meaning he will not chair the institution’s board of directors as a government minister.
The bill regulates the conditions of retirement, where mandatory retirement is the norm and early retirement is the exception; this is to achieve the sustainability of the insurance system and protect the rights of the insured.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said that the government amended the draft Social Security Law such that it will not affect any entitlements to early, mandatory, or optional retirement for the next four years at all.
The Prime Minister indicated that the application of the law will begin in 2030 gradually and continue over the following ten years, until 2040 for mandatory retirement for both males and females (i.e., it will not be fully implemented until 14 years after its enactment, in terms of mandatory retirement).
Regarding early and optional retirement, the Prime Minister clarified that it too will begin implementation after 2030, gradually until 2047 for men and 2041 for women. (i.e., it will be fully implemented after 21 years for men and 15 years for women in terms of early and optional retirement).
Hassan revealed that, pursuant to the amendments, the difference of five years or 60 contributions between men and women in early retirement has been maintained, as it was for mandatory retirement.
The Public Institution for Social Security published on its website, the results of the eleventh actuarial study, which is conducted every three years in accordance with the provisions of Article (18) of the Social Security Law
