Demands include reconsidering working hours, approving allowances

KUWAIT: A number of Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) employees urged the minister himself to intervene and stop what they called 'abusing employees in some ministry sectors,' announcing plans to organize a sit-in on Sunday Jan 27 to voice their demands. The employees stressed that some of them work in extremely hazardous environments and are responsible for others' lives and safety, and thus they should be treated in a better way. They also made a list of their demands including reconsidering their working hours, explaining the point behind those set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), getting allowances for food, hard work, overtime, and pollution, reconsidering CSC instructions on annual assessment, as well as what they described as 'abusive' and 'moody' treatment by some seniors. Notably, employees had decried a recent ministry decision to follow CSC instructions on extending official working hours to seven: from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water Khaled Al-Fadhel was quoted in the press yesterday saying that the ministry will adhere to the CSC instructions, despite earlier promises to put the implementation on hold.

24 cases
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah stressed that out of its responsibilities and constitutional duties, the foreign ministry takes all needed legal measures concerning cases related to Kuwait and its subjects. Responding to an inquiry made by MP Safaa Al-Hashem about the cases filed by Kuwaiti diplomatic missions against people slandering Kuwait and its iconic figures, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled stressed that the ministry usually contacts the concerned bodies in various countries requesting taking legal action against slanderers on various media, adding that 24 such cases have been filed but no final verdicts had been passed yet.

New charters
Kuwait Municipality's deputy director for Capital and Jahra affairs Faisal Al-Jumaa said nine charters had been set and reviewed by the legal department pending referral to the Municipal Council for study and approval. Jumaa explained that the new charters include markets, shades, temporary tents, agriculture, stores, ads and road occupation. Jumaa added that charters on construction in private, residential, investment, commercial and industrial areas are ready and will be soon referred to the Municipal Council.

Replacement policy
Well-informed sources at the justice ministry said the ministry asked the CSC to appoint Kuwaiti youth in various vacant positions it had in various departments and courts in order to help implement the replacement policy. The sources stressed that applicants for these jobs should apply to the CSC and not to the ministry itself, especially after the circulation of some social media notes urging Kuwaitis with school leaving or intermediate school certificates to quickly apply to the justice ministry for immediate appointment as data entry clerks, typists and couriers, which was completely denied by the ministry. Meanwhile, the sources said Minister of Justice and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Fahd Al-Afasi referred two ministry employees to the public prosecution for suspected manipulation of reports and delaying the execution of procedures in the real estate registration department.

Airport tender
The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) urged qualified contractors to file their bids for the tender of the second phase of developing Kuwait International Airport no later than March 24, 2019. Notably, 22 contractors qualified by MPW last June will be invited to a preliminary meeting on Feb 4, 2109. Meanwhile, informed MPW sources said the committee investigating streets that flooded during heavy rain was about to conclude its investigations and is expected to submit its final report to minister Jenan Bushehri by the end of this month. The sources added that the committee had questioned some KNPC specialists to make sure the bitumen (asphalt) substance was used in paving various roads, and that more officials will be questioned prior to issuing the final report.

By A Saleh