ABU DHABI // An FNC member has concerns about the time it took the Pensions Authority to respond to leaks and rumours about changes to the retirement law.
Hamad Al Rahoomi, of Dubai, raised three questions to the chief executive of the General Pension and Social Security Authority, Obaid Al Tayer, who is also Minister for Financial Affairs.
Mr Al Rahoomi questioned the delay in responding to leaks about pension laws, and said that by the time an official denial was made many people had already made life-changing decisions.
“The leaks were that there would be amendments to the pensions law, that they would be negative, and there were many other pieces of information like raising the retirement age to 65,” he said.
It took the authority more than four months to respond to the leaks and rumours.
“This is a very long time,” Mr Al Rahoomi said.
During those four months, many people made decisions to quit their jobs, he said.
“Where is the true news? It was not there and damage was done.”
Abu Dhabi Police provided a good example of how government bodies should respond to rumour, Mr Al Rahoomi said.
Three days after a rumour circulated about a decision to cancel the 50 per cent discount on traffic fines, it was denied, he said.
But in the case of the Pensions Authority, the absence of a response made people think the information was correct.
“They thought since it has not been denied definitely there was something. When you do not deny, you are adding credence to the rumour.
“Why no response? This affects tens of thousands of beneficiaries.”
Mr Al Rahoomi’s second question is about the late release of pension payments to retirees.
“One retires and then three months later the salary is issued, so during these three months how does one live?” he asked.
He mentioned the case of a woman who retired and sought for three months, in vain, to get her pension.
“Every time she asked they told her that her file was still being processed,” Mr Al Rahoomi said. “A week or two later and that was still going on.”
He said that situation was not good enough for a government authority, considering all its efforts to establish a comprehensive smart government system.
In the private sector, if a company delayed the payment of a worker’s wage for a month it could face closure under Labour Law.
“So imagine when it is a government body,” said Mr Al Rahoomi.
A solution must be found immediately, he said.
“If there is a problem in the system or shortage in staff, it should not be my concern as a retiree. Any excuse is unacceptable.”
The third question posed by Mr Al Rahoomi is on the Marriage Fund and why a salary certificate from the Pensions Authority is required as proof of employment.
“What if the person works as a fisherman, or a farmer or a businessman, and is not registered in the authority? Do they reject his application?”
He argued that the fund has its own system and therefore should not reject such cases.
A response from the ministers is expected during the FNC session tomorrow.
The council will also discuss the Federal Budget 2016 draft law.
hdajani@thenational.ae
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The specs
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
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Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
Company Profile
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Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
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Current number of staff: More than 150
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
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Amazon Prime
Four stars
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
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A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
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MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
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Background: M&A, investment banking
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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
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- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
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What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
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