MPs said that the councillors’ decision was wrong, maintaining that the government-drafted bill, originally proposed by parliament and approved by MPs in April, was what women were entitled to have.
Councillors described the bill, which would give female civil servants five "virtual years" at 50, to ensure they get the same benefits when they retire at 55, as unconstitutional, discriminatory and dangerous.
Pension Fund Commission officials told councillors then that the scheme would cost the fund BD173.5 million over the next five years, which they also believed would jeopardise the fund’s status.
However, parliament services committee chairman Dr Ali Ahmed said that the Shura Council has misunderstood the proposal.
"The bill is constitutional, as it doesn’t harm the fact that women and men should be treated equally," he said.
"If the case is as councillors describe, then women are getting maternity leave and breast-feeding hours, which men don’t get, so they want this to stop too."
Dr Ahmed said that the law was optional, giving women the right to choose to retire if they reach 50.
"If female civil servants want to continue, then it is their right, but we are giving them an additional right through this law," he said.
The fund’s pension affairs assistant general manager Abdullatif Al Zayani told MPs at their April session that the law would encourage women to take early retirement, rather than encourage them to stay in their jobs.
He said that they would get a better pension if they decide to leave early rather than stay, which they believed shouldn’t happen.
The bill will now be referred back to the Shura Council and if they insist on their decision, a joint National Assembly meeting will be held, where both councillors and MPs will vote on the bill.
