Amman-- The government and unions on Saturday agreed to "continue dialogue" over a draft income bill the government sent to the parliament last week and also agreed to revisit amendments to the civil service bylaw.

 

This was announced following a meeting that brought together Prime Minister Hani Mulki, President of the Professional Associations Council Ali Obous and Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Atef Tarawneh.

 

In a press conference following the meeting, Tarawneh said the discussion over the draft income tax bill was "positive" and "we are forming a committee to follow up the dialogue, which we hope will be positive and fruitful." He added that the House will always be biased towards the interests of the homeland and citizens, saying the parliament does not bow any dictates and is not bound by any government decision or plan. "We are not bound by the decision of the International Monetary Fund but committed to the interest of the Jordanian people" the lower house speaker emphasized.

 

Prime Minister Hani Mulki said forwarding the draft income tax law to the parliament does not mean the bill or any article of it is approved, adding that the house has plenty of measures to address any draft laws it receives.

 

He indicated that 70 percent of the economic reform program has been completed and if the draft income tax bill is approved, the program will be fully completed.