‘With early salary spent on Eid, employees struggle to get by as school start nears’

AMMAN — With over 40 days passing since receiving their last salary, public and private sector employees are finding it hard to make ends meet, especially with the back-to-school season around the corner.

Employees at public and private institutions received their monthly salaries a few days before Eid Al Fitr holiday, which started July 17, one to two weeks before the regular payday.

The early payment decision aimed to enable employees to meet the holiday’s needs, which mainly include shopping for clothes and sweets.

On the other hand, the burden of day-to-day requirements is growing heavy on the shoulders of breadwinners, with the academic year for schools starting September 1.

Hussam Bayan, a father of three children attending private school in Amman, said he had had to spend money from his savings account, which he keeps for “emergencies”, in order to pay tuition fees.

He added that Eid commitments consumed a “large” portion of his last salary, mainly the eidiyeh (cash gifts traditionally given to children and female relatives).

Samir Silwadi said he is not likely to receive his salary for the month of August before the first day of school, as the private firm he works at pays him at the beginning of the month.

He added that he will postpone buying stationery and school supplies for his daughter, who is in the second grade, until he receives his salary.

But Farah Baddar saw this coming, so she saved up the money her children received during Eid for the back-to-school season. 

“Everyone knew that receiving July’s salary early would mean suffering financially until late August or early September… but everyone needs cash before Eid,” she said.

Preparing her three children to start school is expected to cost Baddar over JD100, yet she pins hopes on receiving this month’s salary without delays.