PM instructs public agencies to abide by austerity measures

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Tuesday decided to designate Royal Jordanian as the sole carrier for state employees who travel on official missions, in a bid to control government expenditure.

In a communiqué, Mulki instructed officials to ensure that flights of ministers and those with the rank of minister will be on the economy class for flights whose durations are four hours or less, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The decision also covers senior military and security officers, heads of commissions and chairpersons of boards of directors of companies where the government has a share of 50 per cent or higher.

If the flight’s duration exceeds four hours, officials can travel on the business class.

The decision excludes official delegations travelling at the invitation of other countries.

Other employees, including those working at companies where the government has a share of 50 per cent or higher, will travel on the economy class regardless of flight duration.

The premier called on the Finance Ministry and the Audit Bureau to ensure the application of the decision and not to disburse any allowance that does not match the communiqué.

The decision follows directives by His Majesty King Abdullah to reduce public expenditure, including reductions in the financial benefits of senior officials. 

The directives came as the government was mulling plans to impose additional taxes to secure JD450 million, as part of a plan to narrow the budget deficit.