KUWAIT: The government has begun working on its agenda for the new parliamentary term which will start after the November 26 elections. Key issues on the agenda include economic, health, educational, security and service-related concerns in addition to some topics that might lead to an early confrontation with the opposition in the new parliament, said informed sources.

The government's agenda would include endorsing the GCC security agreement that had been already approved by all GCC states except for Kuwait. "The government will insist on voting on this agreement that is expected to be opposed by several MPs," said an informed source.

The government also hopes to gain approval for another attempt at reducing government sector wages through what it is labeling a 'strategic payroll alternative.' The plan is to equalize salaries between civil service sector employees holding similar degrees, including those working in the strategic oil sector. Government efforts to cut special privileges resulted in a three day strike by employees of state owned energy companies in April of this year. The strike halved Kuwait's oil output, bringing it down from 2.8 million barrels per day to 1.1 million by day two.

By A Saleh