MINISTERIAL ORDER NO. 8 OF 1988 WITH RESPECT TO VOLUNTARY INSURANCE FOR THE INSUREDS*

The Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Having reviewed Article 44 of the Social Insurance Law promulgated by Legislative Decree No. 24 of 1976, And upon the proposal of the Board of Directors of the General Organisation for Social Insurance at its Meeting No. 58 held on 29.1.1987, And upon the submission of GOSI's Director General, Hereby orders :

Article 1

Every insured who has contributed to the insurance against old age, disability and death on a compulsory basis for at least 5 years and no longer fulfils one of the reasons for being subject to the aforesaid Social Insurance Law, shall have the right to continue enjoying this insurance cover on a voluntary basis, provided that he shall file with the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) a written application using the prescribed form to continue contributing to the insurance branch against old age, disability and death within the six months after becoming no longer subject to the insurance on a compulsory basis. He shall undertake in the said application to pay in full the social insurance contributions due from him and from his employer to GOSI subject to the conditions set forth in this Order and according to the contribution due for the category of a hypothetical monthly income to be selected from the attached Table.

The category selected by the insured for the first time shall not exceed the last contributory salary on the basis of which the contribution was compulsorily paid by more than 40%. He may select a lower category for contribution.

Article 2

Monthly contributions of the amount fixed in the attached Table according to the category to be selected by the insured for payment of the contribution on the basis thereof for the first time and according to the other categories to be selected thereafter, contributions shall be paid to GOSI according to the terms and conditions set forth in this Order and on the dates fixed in the aforesaid Social Insurance Law and the Ministerial Orders issued for implementing it.

Article 3

The insured shall continue to pay the contributions on the basis indicated in the above Article 2 throughout the period of contributing to the insurance. He may request GOSI in writing to alter the category according to which he is paying contribution to the following higher category, provided that the period of his contribution in the category from which he is moved shall not be less than 2 years if he has reached the age of 55 and is not more than 60, and shall not be less than 3 years if he has reached the age of 45 and is not more than 55 and shall not be less than 4 years if he is less than 45 years of age.

The category may be altered to the immediately lower one, provided that the insured must have spent half one the periods set forth in the preceding paragraph.

The aforesaid request shall be submitted at least 6 months before the insured reaches the age mentioned in the preceding Paragraph in each individual case.

An application for altering the rate shall be submitted to GOSI using the prescribed form.

The category alteration shall be applicable in all cases as from the first day of January following the date of submitting the application.

Article 4

An old age pension shall be payable according to the contributory periods mentioned in Article 34 of the Social Insurance Law referred to and subject to the conditions laid down therein.

The pension shall be calculated according to the bases set forth in this Law.

Article 5

The insured or his beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum compensation in the instances provided for in Article 38 of the above Social Insurance Law.

The lump sum compensation shall be calculated on the basis stated in this Law.

Article 6

The insured or his beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive a pension in the case of total permanent disability of the insured or his death should the disability or death occurs during the period of his voluntarily contributory period to the insurance or during a year from the date of ceasing to contribute.

In this case, the pension shall be calculated according to the provisions of Articles 27 and 41 of the Social Insurance Law.

Article 7

The insured's widow or the pensioner's widow, or the eldest of his children or his beneficiaries in the event of his death shall receive a death grant equivalent to 6 times the most recent category on the basis of which the contribution has been paid should the death take place during the period of his voluntary contribution to the insurance or equivalent to six times the amount of pension due should he be a pensioner.

In case of the insured's death, his widow shall be paid the funeral expenses as prescribed under the provisions of the Social Insurance Law. If he does not have a widow, the said expenses shall be paid to the eldest of his children or to the person who proves having borne the funeral expenses. If no one is concerned with the funeral, GOSI shall incur the expenses thereof.

Article 8

Periods of compulsory contribution to insurance and period or periods of voluntary contribution according to this Order shall be deemed continuing in calculating the periods of eligibility for the pension of the insured or his beneficiaries.

The insured and his beneficiaries may seek treatment according to the provisions of Article 42 of the Social Insurance Law whether in terms of the voluntary insurance period or in terms of the compulsory and voluntary insurance periods together.

Article 9

The General Organisation for Social Insurance shall prepare the necessary forms and records required for implementing this Order and an order in respect thereof shall be issued by the Director General of GOSI.

Article 10

This Order shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into effect as from the first day of the month following its publication.

Khalifa bin Sulman bin Mohamed Al Khalifa Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Chairman, Board of Directors, The General Organisation for Social Insurance.

Dated : 20 September 1988