Nayrouz News Agency : The government has decided to suspend the annual salary increase for employees of public, civil and military institutions, excluding civil and military retirees, for 2020 from May 1 until December 31 due to the impact of  COVID-19 on the state budget, Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Sami Daoud said on Friday.

During an interview with Jordan TV's "60 Minutes" programme, Daoud said the decision comes in line with demands raised by citizens, particularly employees, in addition to a large number of security personnel who wanted to help their country, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Financial savings accrued through the decision will reach JD360 million, Daoud said, in addition to the JD20-25 million saved from the decision to stop hiring new employees at all ministries, government departments, public institutions, companies owned by the government, the Greater Amman Municipality and other municipalities until December 31, 2020.

The decision to suspend the increase in employees’ salaries made by the Cabinet includes all official and public institutions, civil and military, including independent bodies and government companies, municipalities and universities.

Daoud stressed that the decision will be applied to all institutions according to the criteria and principles set by the Cabinet, refuting claims that employees of independent bodies and government companies are excluded from the decision.