Engineers seek perks like judges

News Friday, 02 August 2013 DOHA: Apparently inspired by the announcement about a massive rise in the monthly perks of judges and prosecutors, Qatari engineers employed in the government sector say they hope a similar bonanza would be announced for them. Comments posted on local social networking sites, while lauding the increase in the perks of judges, said yesterday the allowances of engineers are low. Engineers are under-paid as they are entitled to allowances to the tune of only 35 percent of their monthly salary, claimed a commentator. He said the pay packages for this category of Qatari professionals are so low that no one wanted these jobs. “If such anomalies are not removed we are afraid we might soon see Qatari engineers quit the government sector. The gap between the emoluments and perks of Qatari engineers in the government sector and other professionals is very wide,” said another commentator. “We hope that the allowances of engineers would be raised to at least 50 percent of their salary.” Commentators said Qatari medical professionals also needed a raise. Meanwhile, a legal expert who didn’t want his name in print, said that it was too early to comment as to how much increase Qatari judges and prosecutors would be entitled to after the recent announcement. “It’s still an Emiri decree. It needs to be interpreted and details would be known later.” According to some websites, judges were entitled to an allowance of 60 percent of their monthly salary provided the allowance is not more than QR12,000. Now, with the new decision in force, judges and members of the prosecution will be entitled to 120 percent of their monthly pay with no upper limits. People commenting on social networking sites lauded the increase in the perks of judges and said they remained socially isolated and the nature of their work was such that there was huge responsibility on them. Due to low pay and perks, young Qataris are not encouraged to enter the profession, a lawyer told local Arabic daily Al Raya. “Also, the decision to raise the perks of judges would likely turn the judiciary more independent,” legal expert Abdulrahman Al Jefairi told the daily. The rising cost of living has been eating into the income of judges. And especially as they are not allowed by law to do business or any other job for extra income, a rise in their allowances is justified. “As lawyers, we are very happy about the decision. Judges are a socially isolated lot due to the nature of their work and they are also not legally permitted to do business or pursue any other work for extra income,” lawyer Sami Abu Sheikha, told this newspaper. “So the raise is heartily welcome.” The Peninsula