Hasnaa Al Rantisy – Palestine Economy Portal

Translated by Tamara Barakat

The Palestinian Legislative Council’s 2016 budget reached around 59 and a half million shekels, 16 million of which are earmarked for operating costs.

According to the PLC’s actual budget, wages and salaries amounted to 16 million and 767 thousand shekels, while social contributions amounted to 1 million and 824 thousand shekels. As for the operating costs, they reached 7 million and 258 thousand shekels. Manufacturing expenses reached 14 million and 54 thousand shekels. The overall expenses amounted to 39 million and 903 thousand shekels.

PLC member, Dr. Hasan Khreisheh, believes that any expenses other than the salaries of the members are unnecessary, such as the office and travel expenses. For example, Dr. Khreisheh said that the travel expenses of some of the PLC members to South America amounted up to 25 thousand dollars. There are more pressing priorities that should receive the money instead of spending it on office miscellaneous for members who do not even perform their jobs. Such expenses reach 8 thousand shekels.

Dr. Khreisheh called for putting an end to these expenses. The salary of the PLC members that amounts to 3 thousand shekels is each member’s right, while any other further expenses are not.

Why Does the PLC Need Development Expenses?

Auditors criticize the fact that a million shekels are earmarked for development expenses in the PLC’s budget. The disabled PLC’s expenses are equal to those of the Ministry of Social Affairs whose work influences a large section of society, like marginalized and poor people.

Dr. Khreisheh wonders, saying, “The PLC does not need any development expenses. What is the use of such expenses when the employees are absent? Are we to train the employees while they are absent and not performing their jobs? The presence of the employee at work depends on the presence of the members, who in the first place are not performing their jobs. This is simply hidden unemployment.”