Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday agreed to maintain the Social Security Administration's Investment Fund following two days of deliberations on its effectiveness.

The House rejected with a majority vote the decision of the joint parliamentary committee (Labor and Legal) to annul the Social Security Investment Fund.

The MPs were divided during the deliberations between lawmakers who support the recommendations of the joint Labor and Finance parliamentary committees, headed by MP Adnan Ajarmeh, which recommended dismantling the unit, and other MPs agreed with the government's recommendation to maintain it.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday had warned against the move to scrap the investment unit, which manages funds totaling JD 6 billion.

Other MPs called for firing the current Fund management, alleging that violations have been committed within the unit.

The House also continued the debate on the social security law and endorsed a number of its articles.

Members of the House, who rejected the move to annul the fund, based their argument on keenness to preserve the Social Security Corporation (SSC) and its funds to enhance the accountability and control regarding its investments because this money belonged to the Jordanians and must be protected.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, who attended the session along with the cabinet members, said, "We, in the government, don't want to control the funds of the SSC, as some people think. All that the government wants is to preserve the SSC's money and ensure that these funds, which are regulated by the government, are run in an ideal way that keeps them preserved," Petra reported.