The Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs announced the suspension of retirement pensions for violators of the Khatwa Programme for Home-based Projects who unlawfully added previous service periods under voluntary insurance.
The decision, effective January 2025, aims to ensure the programme benefits eligible citizens and prevents misuse of pension and social insurance funds.
In October, the committee reviewed 1,413 cases of programme participants who added previous service periods, verifying compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Of these, 1,094 provided the required documents and clarifications within the given timeframe.
The committee emphasised the government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of National Audit Office’s investigative review of the Khatwa programme. It highlighted that violations included offences under the Penal Code and Social Insurance Law, such as forgery and collusion to unlawfully obtain compensation, pensions, or benefits. Penalties for these offences could reach up to 10 years in prison, as stipulated by law.
The committee also took legal action against public sector employees who issued false statements supporting participants’ claims of home-based work under the programme.
The committee urged violators to contact the Social Insurance Organisation to settle cases, with further details on settlement procedures to be announced later.
The committee noted that the government allocated BHD 9.2 million to cover losses from forgery, ensuring the rights of retirees and contributors in both public and private sectors remain unaffected. It emphasised the importance of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the pension and social insurance funds.
