Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabia 'sweetens' succession shakeup with austerity reversal and two-week Eid holiday
Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabia 'sweetens' succession shakeup with austerity reversal and two-week Eid holiday
Public sector workers will have their salaries and bonuses restored and backdated after a new decree issued by King Salman.
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The reversal on austerity is expected to quell some discontentment in the kingdom [AFP]
Saudi Arabia has cancelled plans to cut public sector salaries and benefits, the country's offficial Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.
The announcement comes alongside news of a succession shakeup that has seen Prince Mohammed Bin Salman become next in line to the throne.
A statement from published by the SPA said that the decision was made in order to "ensure the comfort of our Saudi sons and daughters" and "provide them with generous living standards".
The move to reverse the austerity measures is expected to quell some discontent within the country, but may complicate the future king's ambitious plans to restructure the kingdom's finances.
Allowances and bonuses for public sector workers were announced last year, after Prince Mohammed spearheaded the launch of the Vision 2030 economic restructuring plan.
With the reversal, civil servants and military personnel will be have payments backdated to when the measures were first announced in September.
It has also been anounced that Saudi Arabia will have a two-week holiday to celebrate the Eid feast at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
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