KUWAIT: Director General of the Interior Ministry's Residency Detectives Affairs Department Brigadier Saud Abdallah Al-Khader, and Director General of Relations and Security Information General Department Brigadier Adel Al-Hashash yesterday warned citizens and expatriates against dealing with fake domestic help offices. They added in a statement that the ministry has recently noticed that some people made ads over social media and other means, offering domestic help services on hourly basis. They added that this activity is considered 'swindling acts' by people who do not have the proper licenses to offer housemaid employment services.

Brig Khader urged citizens and expats to deal only with offices licensed by the Interior ministry so that they do not fall victim for fraudsters.

He said concerned authorities are coordinating to carry out campaigns to uncover fake offices and arrest workers in violation of labor regulations. He added that concerned authorities were contacted in order to ban such ads "which contribute to the rise of crime rates," adding that there is a joint team from the residency detectives and residency affairs departments to monitor such illegal ads and take legal action against them.

KUWAIT: Firefighters tackle a blaze at a basement in Industrial Shuwaikh yesterday.

Shuwaikh fire

Seven fire stations battled a huge blaze that broke out in a basement used as a food stuff warehouse in Industrial Shuwaikh area yesterday morning. It was the second fire that took place in the same area in the last 48 hours. The basement contained a warehouse which contained furniture and housewares, stored in a way that obstructed firemen's activity. They were able to isolate the items however and prevent the flames from reaching them. State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah followed the efforts of firemen to make sure they remained safe. No injuries were reported.

Factories' crackdown

The environment police carried out a surprise visits to Shuaiba area in cooperation with the Environment Public Authority (EPA), during which it discovered several violations in factories that did not complete the environmental conditions and standards. Tickets were issued against six factories, and legal procedures are being taken to guarantee compliance with the industrial activity conditions.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun