Palestinian salary crisis diminish Ramadan consumption

RAMALLAH, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Samer Mohamed is calculating carefully not to spend all his 60-percent-salary that he received this month in buying things his family needs for Ramadan, fearing that he might not get paid at all next month as a fiscal crisis is pinching his employer, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

However, a large smile appeared on his face as he received a text message saying he could get the rest of his salary. "we received June's salary in two phases, 60 percent and then 40 percent, but who knows if we will receive our salaries for July."

After a 14-day delay, the PNA paid only 60 percent of its 150, 000 employees' salaries. A shortfall in the PNA budget has reached to more than 1 billion U.S. dollars according to official figures.

The crisis was partially resolved after Saudi Arabia paid the PNA an urgent financial donation to pay the rest 40 percent. Samer and other PNA employees in the West Bank and Gaza decided to reduce their spending.

While he was wandering at the central market in the West Bank city of Ramallah and carrying a few bags, he told Xinhua "my wife usually prepares a shopping list for Ramadan, but this time I didn 't follow her list and I was obliged to reduce our purchasing." more

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