Pensioners demand greater benefits

TABUK — A number of retired teachers have demanded the government provide them with health insurance. Fawaz Al-Enizi said retired teachers and other public servants get less benefits than employees retiring from public sector companies. “We don’t have any health insurance or any medical care unlike people who have retired from big companies such as Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Telecommunications Co. These pensioners receive full medical coverage for life. Health insurance is essential for any pensioner,” said Al-Enizi, a retired teacher. Pointing out that the pensioners' families are greatly affected by the benefits they receive, he said public sector retirees should receive the same benefits the private sector offers. Pensioner Abdullah Al-Shihry said social security recipients and other pensioners receive insufficient amounts, which are not enough to sustain them after retirement. “The social insurance deducts 9 percent of employees’ salaries every month. This accounts for a minimum of SR1,000 or SR13,000 a year. This adds up to a total of SR350,000. The Public Pension Agency can invest the money and increase it so our pensions reach SR1 million by the time we retire,” said Al-Shihry. He added with such a pension, the retiree can feel psychologically and financially stable and can even pass down some inheritance to his children. “The current pension received is barely enough as many pensioners spend it paying off real estate debts and other piled up expenses. There are around 700,000 pensioners in Tabuk alone. We need more care and attention from the authorities. Our lives seem to diminish in importance once we retire,” said Al-Shihry. Retired teacher Mohammad Al-Sudais said men retire earlier than women and then forced to lead a life of laziness and boredom. “We should have many benefits, such as soft loans from banks, discounts on retail products, special health insurance packages and other benefits that provide us with a good and stable living,” said Al-Sudais.