KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah chairs the cabinet’s meeting yesterday. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The cabinet yesterday entrusted the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) with studying a proposal for introducing legislative amendments to curb the phenomenon of fake employment. The cabinet held its regular weekly meeting at Bayan Palace, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

The MGRP, will coordinate with the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS), Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) and the Cabinet Committee on Fatwa and Legislation, and will have to report to the cabinet in a month time, said Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

The proposal was made by a committee formed by the cabinet decree 970 issued on 1 July 2014, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who is also Acting Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for the National Assembly Affairs, added.

Prior to the decision, the ministers' reviewed recommendations submitted by the Committee on Education, Cultural. Social and Health Affairs, on a relevant report tackling work and achievements of the higher committee on the fake employment of nationals in non-government bodies.

The MGRP was also tasked with coordinating with the Interior Ministry's Ports Security Affairs sector to take the necessary measures to complete the electronic connection between both bodies, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah noted.

At the onset of the cabinet's routine meeting, the ministers welcomed a visit to Kuwait due next week by President of the Swiss Confederation Johann Schneider-Ammann, and accompanying delegation, said Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

Climate change

Then the cabinet was notified of the outcome of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's participation in the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Morocco, and the content of his address to the international event. At the COP 22, His Highness the Amir reiterated Kuwait's commitment to joining in supporting the efforts exerted by the UN to combat climate change.

Kuwait has voluntarily put well-studied plans, based on scientific and economic research, within its available possibilities, to rehabilitate its oil installations, as its oil sector seeks to adopt a new strategy, founded on scientific and economic grounds, that aim to limit emissions, His Highness the Amir told the event. His Highness the Amir stressed that Kuwait is about to complete the constitutional procedures for the ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The ministers were also informed of the message from the UN General Assembly elected Ambassador Peter Thomson, to His Highness the Amir. Thomson's message noted that the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) till 2030, would be the core of the Assembly's present session. He stressed the significance of educating students on these SDGs through including them in school curricula. The cabinet was apprised of the message to His Highness the Amir from Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who highly appreciated Kuwait's stances in support to her country.

The ministers were notified of a message from UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova to His Highness the Amir, inviting him to attend the award ceremony of the UNESCO/Amir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities slated for December 2, 2016, in Paris. First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah will represent His Highness the Amir at the ceremony.

Voting

In the meantime, the cabinet meeting reviewed the final arrangements by the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Information, and Education as well as other government bodies for a smooth and fair voting in the National Assembly (parliament) elections due on Saturday November 26.

The cabinet expressed hope that a spirit of honest competition will dominate the entire process, and that voters will be able to select the representatives according to criteria of efficiency and sincerity for serving the nation and achieving the aspired goals.

After that, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the cabinet on his participation in the concluding ceremony of the 'Arabian Gulf Security 1' Exercise that was held in Bahrain under King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's patronage.

The exercise embodied the GCC unified solid will amid the back-to-back security developments and hazards sweeping the region. The cabinet was briefed on the outcome of the 15th GCC defense ministers recently held in Riyadh.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah told the ministers that the Riyadh meeting had discussed several security and military issues, and challenges on the regional and international scenes.

Meanwhile, the cabinet approved and referred to His Highness the Amir two draft bills for cooperation with Bangladesh in the military field, and mutual encouragement and protection of investments. They will later find their way to the National assembly.

By the same token, the cabinet approved and referred to His Highness the Amir a draft decree, for approving a MoU for tourist cooperation with Mexico, and another on a trade agreement with the Maldives. The cabinet concluded yesterday's meeting with a review of the latest Arab and international political developments. - KUNA