KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Manpower will continue issuing work permits to various companies according to standard regulations and without any suspensions, official spokesperson and public relations director Aseel Al-Mazyad said. She explained that according to ministerial decision 747, labor departments will issue work permits approved by the labor assessment section for activities executing government contracts and companies fully owned by the government, shareholding companies, hospitals, medical centers, outpatient departments, pharmacies, banks, insurance companies, hotels, private schools, clubs, unions, NGOs, aviation companies, marine lines agents, engineering consultancy offices, law firms, fishing, agriculture, shepherding, press houses, automobile agents, opticians, money exchangers, universities and institutes approved by the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Mazyad added that the decision also authorizes the work permit committee to issue permits for companies listed on the KSE, rental companies, companies approved by the municipality and CTC, closed and holding shareholding companies, international brand agents, domestic healthcare companies, companies specialized in firefighting, travel agents licensed by the civil aviation department, spas, shopping malls, cinema houses, department stores and crafts.

Date adjustment

Health Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi adjusted the date on which the retirement of ministry employees he recently referred to retirement takes effect to Dec 1 instead of Oct 31 so they could arrange matters and prepare to execute the decision. In another concern, Obaidi noted that 350 retirees have so far been hospitalized using their 'Afya' health insurance cards. Obaidi added that 63,496 Afya cards have been distributed so far.

Clinical labs

Dasman Diabetes Institute's clinical lab manager Asma Al-Hubail said that the lab has completed eight papers on diabetes and that eight more are currently under process. Hubail said the clinical labs were launched in 2007, when the tests done there were very limited, until the labs expanded their work and became accredited by the Canadian board and fully equipped with the latest equipment and highly skilled medical and nursing staffs.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi and A Saleh