Sharjah 24: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, approved the first phase of the "Sultan Project for a Decent Living", which will include raising the salaries of 453 retired employees of the Sharjah Police on the federal cadre, bringing their salaries to 17,500 dirhams, at a cost of 40 million dirhams annually, with retroactive effect since January 1, 2018.
This came in a telephone interview on the “Direct Line” programme, which is broadcast on Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (SBA), with Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of SBA, during which His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah said: Police are a category that works amid many dangers, and they are exposed to many accidents that may amount to death in the line of duty, such as the incident of the late Lieutenant Saif bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Hamid Al Tunaiji, who was hit by a gunshot that led to his death during a raid.
His Highness maintained that since police are exposed to these accidents, we cannot leave them in these low standards of living, after they spent their youth serving the country, as some of them have passed away and there are those who are old, highlighting that His Highness pays close attention to these matters.
Sharjah Ruler added that His Highness obtained statistics on the numbers and salaries of this category, studied them and worked on them with officials, stressing that they found that the salaries are not enough, although Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD) provides assistance for such cases, the amount is little. His Highness continued that SSSD stops the amount offered immediately if the person opens a project, even if it is small, and considers it as source of livelihood, to which His Highness questioned the reason behind cutting the amount given that God gave them this source of income.
On the difference between an employee and an officer, His Highness said: "What is the difference between an employee and an officer? When the employee finishes his work, he goes to his home and rests, while the officer stays up at night. Sometimes his work is at night and sometimes during the day, and at all times his work is interspersed with risks. It is necessary that he be honoured. The officer is more than an employee, knowing that I do not want to make a difference between them, but I am currently working on addressing this category's situation first.”
His Highness said: "We asked SSSD to leave this category to us, and I studied their conditions myself to treat them regardless of the cost, so that they would be equalised with the retired employees of the Sharjah Police on the local cadre, and since the local cadre status was modified on January 1, 2018. We will present retirees from the Sharjah Police on the federal cadre this difference retroactively from January 1, 2018.”
His Highness continued by saying: "Not only that, but we will also compensate them for the material suffering they went through during the last period. I will resolve their issues and debts, and this file is under my attention and I will start working on it, and this compensation is a “gift” for those who suffered from them during this period. As some of them when they speak, I feel their bitterness. The economic situation is not merciful to people, so we began to address the conditions of this group, to treat after that the other groups, as we will address the conditions of all groups, God willing, and we hope to God that this year will not end until we are all fine.”
His Highness added: "We note once again that the officer who stays up at night and takes risks is not equal to the employee who is sitting safely at work and returns home in the afternoon, noting that the issue of hazard pay is neither new nor innovative, but rather it is well-known and followed with many professions. Like doctors and engineers, we promise the retired employees of the Sharjah Police on the federal cadre all the best and we tell them the suffering that you endured will be resolved by me, until they are rejoiced.”
Regarding the ways of dealing with the conditions of retired employees of the Sharjah Police on the federal cadre; His Highness said: "We will do this without burdening the government with expenses in the middle of the year, as we have arranged all matters with the bank through a real estate portfolio, and not through loans. I will not accept to feed my children with loans."
His Highness said: "What we offer to our children who work and strive for their country is not a favour, but rather it is their right over us. They are my sons and daughters, I give my children with complete joy, as I am saddened while reviewing the papers. This is known only to those who are aware of the conditions of society and see its details, and I will not accept that the conditions of my children be treated through subsidies, but rather by raising their salaries.”
His Highness concluded by saying: “This society is our “concern” and our first concern. My wife and I, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, we work and strive for it. We care about the family and support its stability through a large sector that includes many centres such as youth's centres, children's centres, Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, Friends of Breastfeeding Association, and many others. His Highness continued: Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher works with about 24 institutions for community service, and Her Highness meets daily with three or four institutions among them. We are familiar with all the details of our society, we work and strive to serve it and elevate it in all aspects, and we say to our brothers who gave us their youth and energies: “Forgive us for the delay.”
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