Hind Al-Subaih

KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Subaih yesterday denied reports that the door was open to transfer workers on government projects to the private sector. The minister added those holding domestic helper residencies are also not allowed to transfer to the private sector. She announced that meetings will take place before the holy month of Ramadan, which begins early June, to take new decisions and determine changes regarding the local demographic structure. She provided no further details.

Authorities are taking all necessary measures to ensure a balance in the labor market and the demographic structure with the aim to achieve development goals and pave the way for foreign investments in the country, Subaih said. She said that studies and research on the ratios of work permits for foreigners being conducted by the higher population committee and the manpower authority will continue.

Foreign workers who have been hired by contractors operating a government project are required to leave the country immediately after the project is completed. Despite measures by authorities to control the demographic mix, the number of expatriates has swelled to around three million people, constituting about 70 percent of Kuwait's population.

Meanwhile, the government has asked the National Assembly to delay a scheduled debate on government-sponsored economic reforms in its session next week until further notice, said MP Ahmad Lari, rapporteur of the priorities committee. The request came because of the absence of the prime minister, who is currently leading a high-level delegation on a tour to four Asian countries.

As a result, the Assembly will discuss in its sessions next week the copyright law, a draft law allowing the government to naturalize up to 4,000 stateless people this year, the anti-money laundering law and others, MP Lari said. He said the Assembly might discuss amendments to the public tenders law if the financial affairs committee completes its report.

Head of the Assembly's educational committee MP Awdah Al-Awdah said yesterday the panel discussed with owners of some private schools the issue of raising school fees. He said the discussions will be completed on Monday. The committee also debated the private education draft law and will complete it later. It also discussed articles of a draft law to regulate government universities.

By B Izzak