The biggest public sector pay rises in Bahrain's history were announced yesterday (August 1) as part of a BD200 million ($530.50 million) package, with a maximum of 35.6 per cent hike in civil servants’ wage packets.

It will also mean a rise of 37.5 per cent in pay for pensioners.

In real terms, the lowest salary for those registered with the Civil Service Bureau will be BD402 and BD275 for pensioners.

HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa announced this as he chaired at his court a work meeting dedicated to implementation of His Majesty King Hamad's directives to increase the salaries of civilian and military personnel, retirees and improve citizens' standards of living.

He also created a new Standard of Living Improvement monthly allowance ranging between BD50 and BD60 for needy civilian and military employees and BD75 for pensioners. – TradeArabia News Service