The Shoura Council is scheduled to vote at its next session Sunday on a proposal to pay women a pension at the age of 55. The recommendation to amend some articles of the Social Insurance Regulations comes from the council's Administration and Human Resources Committee. If the change is made, then women will be allowed a pension at 55 as long as they have contributed to the Kingdom's social insurance fund for a minimum of 120 months. Currently women qualify for pension at the age of 60. An informed source at the Shoura Council said the amendment aims to ensure greater benefits for pensioners. He pointed out that the General Organization for Social Insurance has no problem with the amendment to the fund. The Shoura Council will also discuss on Sunday a report from the Security Affairs Committee recommending a ban on vehicles carrying less than 25 passengers from entering the holy sites during Haj season. The Shoura Council will also discuss a report from the Economic Affairs and Energy Committee on the draft agreement between the Kingdom and Belarus on trade and other investment. The council will also discuss a Foreign Affairs Committee report on the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Brazil and another report by the Islamic and Judicial Affairs Committee on a draft understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance and the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Tunisia. The other reports to be discussed include a draft memorandum of scientific and educational cooperation between the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and a draft memorandum of understanding between the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and international institutes in New Zealand.
