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Abu Dhabi, 10th May 2023:  Human resources employees recruited in government authorities in Dubai as well as Emiratis working in the federal, government and private sectors in the Emirate were invited to attend the Umm Suqeim Portable Pension Majlis, organized to help raise awareness regarding the laws applied by the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA).


The Portable Pension Majlis is one of GPSSA’s initiatives to organize sessions and visits to community councils, as well as to government and private sector entities in order to deliver awareness sessions and answer inquiries raised by insured individuals, pensions, beneficiaries and entrepreneurs regarding the federal pension laws.


The event was held at the Umm Suqeim Portable Majlis in the presence of GPSSA’s Head of Government Communications Office, Dr. Maysa Rashed Ghadeer, who moderated the session, as well as Mr. Mohamed Saqer, GPSSA’s Pension Operations Department Head, alongside a number of managers and employees from across various sectors and departments, who helped answer attendee inquiries related to laws and services.


According to GPSSA’s data there are 44,653 insured Emiratis from the Emirate of Dubai currently registered with the GPSSA, which represents 35% of GPSSA’s 127,799 contributors from across federal, government and private sectors. Registered Emiratis from the private sector constitute the largest number of contributors with a total of 19,712, followed by 19,392 government sector employees, and 5,549 employees from the federal sector.


Dr. Ghadeer stressed on the importance of organizing such sessions, since it helps provide GPSSA’s officials and employees with the opportunity to meet and communicate with various entities and employees, and transfer accurate information on the pension laws, while updating them on projects due to be introduced. She also emphasized their role in enhancing bilateral communication directed to all segments covered by the law, while discussing issues and proposals that cater to improving customer experience.


During the session, entities and Emirati employees subject to the pension law were asked to enhance their insurance knowledge by attending similar portable councils and/or workshops, while following GPSSA’s awareness campaigns via media and social media platforms, where various initiatives are being organized such as the ‘Our Stories’ competition and MA’ASHI (whether via podcast or in writing).


The laws applied by the GPSSA were also explained, namely Federal Law No. (7) of 1999 regarding pension and social security, and Law No. (57) of 2023 regarding pension and social security. Attendees were offered information on the most important insurance benefits included in both pension laws, such as the retirement pension, its eligibility conditions and the end-of-service gratuity, its provisions, compensation and eligibility criteria’s. 


The most prominent services provided by pension laws were also reviewed, such as merging and purchasing employment years, the definition of the provisions of each, and their calculation method, as well as the benefits behind Shourak. The disbursement of insurance benefits during the end-of-service period, the procedures to adhere to as per framework, and the period specified to complete services were also highlighted.


The GPSSA officials explained the flexibility involved in issuing online pension certificates and update data, services that can be accessed amongst various other services through GPSSA’s website, happiness centers and locations. These services as well as some of GPSSA’s latest developments and projects are constantly being mentioned on GPSSA’s official social media platforms, which attendees were encouraged to access and follow, if not done already.


Towards the end of the session, GPSSA’s pension officials encouraged attendees to ask questions and share their issues regarding the pension calculation mechanism, as while on ways to merge employment years.