LEGISLATION WATCH- Planning Ministry wants to give civil servants bigger raises: The Planning Ministry has finalized amendments to the Civil Service Act’s executive regulations that would pave the way for public sector employees to receive bigger annual raises, government sources say. As it currently stands, the Civil Service Act stipulates that all public sector workers are eligible for an annual raise equivalent to 7% of their base salary. Public wages are comprised of a (generally low) base salary and a laundry list of bonuses, allowances, and special payouts that are added to employees’ total earnings. The new system the ministry is looking to implement would bring together all of these bonuses and added payments under one single band known as “complementary wages.” The amendments to the Civil Service Act would then grant a 7% annual raise on each of the base and the complementary wages, effectively meaning that public sector salaries will see a jump to offset rising living costs. The new system is also meant to reduce wage disparities between employees of the same seniority, Central Organization for Management and Administration head Saleh El Sheikh had said on Monday. The ministry has sent the amendments to the Ismail Cabinet for review and sign-off, according to the sources.