The judiciary subcommittee of the National Assembly approved a bill Monday to tighten the rules on lawmakers holding extra jobs.

“Lawmakers of the subcommittee agreed on prohibiting lawmakers having additional jobs such as professors at universities,” an Assembly official said.

The subcommittee discussed bills proposed by the Assembly Special Committee for political reform before handing them over to its upper committee, the Assembly Steering Committee.

According to the content of the mutual agreement of the subcommittee, lawmakers have to resign from their honorary positions including honorary professorships after being elected to the Assembly.

However, the decision on whether to apply these changes to incumbent lawmakers in the 19th parliament was postponed, pending further consultation.

Holding extra jobs has been cited as a right among legislators but some have been criticized for receiving high salaries from honorary positions, even though they do not regularly work for institutes or universities.

Officials said, once passed by the Assembly, those who will be elected in the October by-elections or the 20th Assembly election, which will be held in 2016, could be affected by the new rule.

For it to be implemented as law, the bill needs to pass a steering committee, as well as the legislation and judiciary committee and then be put to a vote in the Assembly plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, and continuing through to next Monday and Tuesday.