New criteria for pensions recipients to come into effect as of 1 August

The Social Solidarity Ministry committee tasked with fine-tuning the welfare system has finished outlining new criteria and guidelines for pension beneficiaries, unnamed government officials tell Al Borsa. The guidelines, which would see whole families instead of only bread earners listed on the system, will come into effect in August now that the committee has also finished purging the welfare rolls (including the Takaful and Karama cash subsidy programs) from moochers, the official adds. The Social Solidarity Ministry is currently waiting to receive the USD 60 mn tranche of a USD 400 mn funding facility from the World Bank meant to support its cash subsidy programs, especially as they expand to cover more family members and infants.