Saudi Arabia: Officials suffer in austerity drive

The government has taken an axe to public sector pay in a series of royal orders and cabinet decrees announced on 26 September. Ministers will see their salaries cut by 20% and have to start paying for their own phone bills. Members of the Shura Council will suffer a 15% pay cut as well as reduced housing, furniture and car allowances. Other public sector officials will have their overtime capped at 25% of their basic salary and further pay rises have been suspended.