Local Editor
Saudi Arabia’s cabinet announced in a Monday statement that it had amended laws pertaining to military officers, allowing air force pilots and weapons operators to receive a 35 percent pay raise on their basic salaries, Reuters reported, citing Saudi Press Agency.
Officers responsible for flying fighter jets and operating their weapons systems will experience a bigger pay raise, at 60 percent.
The cabinet did not give a reason for the pay increases, or any indication of what the country’s pilots currently earn.
September report by the Yemen Data Project concluded that one-third of Saudi airstrikes hit hospitals, schools, and other civilian targets. The Saudi-led campaign is estimated to have killed over 12,000 civilians. Meanwhile the blockade imposed in Yemen is literally starving the population.
In a seemingly similar effort to support its military last year, Riyadh exempted active soldiers from cuts to annual leave and bonuses.
The recent announcement comes despite Riyadh’s gloomy economic outlook, which includes a budget deficit of nearly $100 billion brought on by a slump in oil prices as well as increased military spending.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
