Head of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Recruitment Offices Khaled Al-Dakhnan affirmed that the decision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to set a higher limit for the recruitment of domestic workers makes it difficult for the offices to recruit skilled workers, especially considering the existing competition with other countries that depend on the open market system, reports Al-Anba daily. In a press statement, he said, “Kuwait was and still is the cheapest among the Gulf countries in terms of the recruitment price.

Other countries offer much higher prices than what is offered in Kuwait. It is unreasonable for offices in the exporting countries to provide us with skilled and distinguished workers when other countries are paying much higher amounts”. Al-Dakhnan indicated that the owners of the domestic labor recruitment offices incur a lot of the fees imposed by Kuwait and the labor-supplying countries.

He said he was surprised to know that the ministry did not seek the opinion of the union, even though it is the official body responsible for the recruitment offices in Kuwait. Al-Dakhnan appealed to the concerned authorities to reverse the decision in favor of the citizens and the recruiting agencies.

He indicated that the Ministry of Commerce, in its decision, set the prices for the recruitment of African domestic workers even though the concerned authorities had not originally signed any memorandum of understanding with any one of the countries to bring in their workers. Al-Dakhnan said the union has been waiting for years to sign a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia, but it has not yet signed it.

 According to informed sources, the Central Bank of Kuwait has informed banks that they must Kuwaitize the position of Director of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit. It emphasized the importance of localizing sensitive banking jobs, including senior and middle management, and making the necessary efforts to achieve this, reports Al-Rai daily.

They explained that the Central Bank was initially pushing the banks to present plans to adjust their situation in this regard. However, it later allowed to extend the deadline but it is not likely to extend beyond the year 2023. The Central Bank indicated that the appointment of non-Kuwaitis in leadership positions in general for a limited period should be linked to qualifying Kuwaiti competencies to fill these jobs within the framework of career development plans and the required replacement. Some banks responded by affirming that they have already Kuwaitized such positions, while others responded that they are working on it.

The Central Bank’s moves to localize sensitive jobs include reviewing the banks’ plans individually to ensure they make the required job succession. The position of “Director of Anti- Money Laundering” is the second job that the Central Bank obliges banks to ensure it is occupied by a Kuwaiti, after the position of Director of Strategic Planning and Follow-up Unit, which was approved through supervisory instructions issued in January 2020, related to the establishment of an independent sector to support and follow up the framework of work related to the strategic plan of the banks. It should be noted that all banks have already fulfilled this requirement, and the eye is currently open on risk management as well. In general, the primary role of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit is to ensure that all transfers set at the supervisory ceiling are in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, and compliant with the bank’s internal policies and regulations.

It is noteworthy that an independent unit is assigned in each department to monitor the implementation of the bank’s anti-money laundering policy. It is directly reporting to the bank’s chairman and responsible for implementing the bank’s policies and procedures in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. The sources explained that the Central Bank’s request to Kuwaitize the position of Director of Anti-Money Laundering Unit in the banks comes within its plans aimed at ensuring Kuwaitis fill the banking positions, specifically in the middle and leading executive departments.. They admitted that some banks face great challenges in Kuwaitizing some jobs, especially the specialized ones, including the Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit, due to the increasing demand for such jobs versus the availability.

This contributes to fierce competition among them to meet the requirements, and may include courting some talents in other banks with additional financial benefits to persuade them to move out from their banks. All banks are seeking to raise their Kuwaitization rates in various sectors, but on the ground, the obstacles to the abundance of supply cannot be ignored, especially to fill sensitive banking and supervisory jobs. Among the challenges that are difficult to overcome are the conditions of the Central Bank itself in accepting candidates for some jobs due to their failure to meet the specified conditions. This narrows down the banks’ opportunities to choose, and the ability to replace some departments with the targeted supervisory speed. Since April 2021, the Central Bank has requested the banks to provide it with a plan approved by the boards of directors showing a clear path to reach a Kuwaitization rate of at least 70 percent in the senior and middle management, and not only at the level of the bank as a whole, in a manner that clarifies the path it will follow to achieve this replacement by no later than the end of 2023.

The Central Bank’s move in this direction is part of its strategic endeavor to enhance the presence of national competencies in the banking sector at all functional levels, and its constant interest in developing career opportunities for Kuwaiti cadres, while giving national cadres priority in filling leadership positions in technical and administrative fields, and taking measures to train and qualify them to fill those positions.

 As part of its objectives to provide the best options to its valued customers, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its new food menus, which will be introduced shortly on-board Kuwait Airways, to suit the tastes and preferences of valued passengers and meet their requirements. Accordingly, Kuwait Airways held a presentation of these new menus, in the presence of various specialized chefs, culinary experts and international hotel officials, to evaluate the Company’s latest launch of diverse and distinguished menus, who in turn expressed their appreciation and admiration for the menus, skillfully prepared by national cadres.

On this occasion, the Director of Customer Services Department at Kuwait Airways, Mishal Al-Mutairi stated, “Kuwait Airways’ launch of new menus, arises from within the framework of the Company’s keenness to provide various, diverse services to its valued customers, which is in accordance with its strategic plans towards developing and improving procedures and systems, so as to meet the requirements and preferences of our dear customers, as well as to achieve the desired objectives that will enable the Blue Bird to reach wider horizons.”

Mutairi added, “Inviting chefs and hotel officials is a new and unique experience, as it evaluates the general preferences and aspects of the food offered to passengers included in the new menus and also provides us with the opportunity to re-introduce distinguished new products, as well as delicious food and beverages, that suit the tastes and enhances the experiences of the passengers and meets their preferences, as they enjoy a comfortable and pleasant journey on board the National Carrier’s state-of-the-art fleet of aircraft.”

Mutairi continued by saying, “Kuwait Airways bestows enormous attention to every detail in the service of customers and spares no effort to provide innovative and unique facilities, as well as to attain the highest levels of service excellence for passengers, from their check-in at Terminal 4, completing their travel procedures with ease and enjoying the best services on board, which are provided by our cadres with extensive experience in the field of aviation and hospitality.”

Mutairi concluded his statement by extending his sincere thanks and appreciation to the international hotel officials and specialized chefs for accepting Kuwait Airways’ invitation and participating in this important event and was hopeful that the new menus would meet the expectations of the passengers and ensure an enjoyable travel experience.

The greatest load ever was 15,900 megawatts on Sunday, August 7th, according to Kuwait's power index. In light of the rising temperatures, reports claim that this number is the highest for this year. This increase was anticipated because the ministry predicts that during the peak season, which typically finishes at the end of September each year, usage will reach 16,500 megawatts. All power producing units are running at the requisite efficiency, and any unit that must shut down due to a technical issue is quickly brought back up after receiving the necessary maintenance. Depending on the fuel type and temperature that regulate a particular component of power generation operations, the ministry has a reserve of between 1,500 and 2,000 megawatts.

The sources highlighted the need to work on energy rationalization in a professional manner that enables a decrease in consumption, raises the energy efficiency to higher levels, and relieves pressure on the power generation plants that operate over a 24-hour period and are susceptible to any defect like the stations around the world.

The Al-Asimah, Hawalli, Farwaniya, and Jahra Governorates' Deputy Director-General for Municipal Affairs, Eng. Ammar Al-Ammar, reported that in 2021, there were 200 complaints against bachelors living in private housing areas from these governorates, and singles have also been evicted from 53 properties.

Al-Ammar added in his report the procedures the municipality has been employing since the issuance of Decree Law No. 125 of 2011 regarding the phenomenon of bachelors living in private and model housing areas are the same procedures the committee is using to address the phenomenon of bachelors. These procedures are carried out in full cooperation and coordination with the Ministries of Interior and Electricity and Water.

The processes are as follows:

• The issuance of a complaint against the premises where bachelors reside
• The relevant municipality branch's Engineering Audit and Follow-up Department inspects the property to confirm the veracity of the complaint.
• The relevant municipality branch's Engineering Audit and Follow-up Department issues a warning to the property owner.
• In situations where it is uncertain whether there are singles in the building, request detective investigations.
• Create a violation report against the property owner and send it to the legal department while keeping the department that created the violation report aware that it has done so.
• If the bachelors don't evacuate the property, turn off the electricity to the building.
• After confirming that all singles have left the property, reconnect the electrical supply to it.

He explained that the Decree Law No. 125 of 1992, the comprehensive memorandum that accompanied it, and the letters from the Legal Department that authorised the power cut to the part in violation of the exploited property of a mixture of singles and non-Kuwaiti families are what the committee relies on in its procedures to cut off the electricity to the violating homes. Al-Ammar clarified that all requests for a power outage for real estate are made at the request of the relevant municipality branch following the completion of the necessary steps there.

Director of the Audit and Engineering Follow-up Department in the Farwaniya Municipality Branch, Saeed Al-Azmi, announced the closure of five illegal establishments that are commercially exploited in investment properties in the governorate, as part of an inspection tour in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Farwaniya. Al-Azmi confirmed in a statement to reporters Monday that the campaign launched by the municipality this week in cooperation with the Kuwait Fire Force to detect violating stores in investment real estate continues on a daily basis in all governorates. 

He explained that basements in investment real estate have two legal positions through using them as car parks or as storage for the residents of the building, indicating that the team during its detection today found illegal use of those basements, such as using them as carpentry or for storing dyes and highly fl ammable materials. He pointed out that the supervisory team in the Farwaniya Municipality sent a warning for the unauthorized purpose, indicating that the wrong use of these basements threatens people’s lives, as the ignition of these materials will pose a real danger to the residents of those buildings. Last Thursday, the Kuwait Municipality launched a campaign in cooperation with the Kuwait Fire Force to inspect the violating stores in investment properties in the six governorates to ensure that their owners comply with the requirements of the Kuwait Fire Force. (KUNA)

Fahd Al-Shariaan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development, issued a ministerial decision on Sunday setting a maximum fee for domestic labor recruitment contracts. As reported by an Arabic newspaper, Al-Shariaan said the fees were adjusted according to the country where the workers were originally hired. Furthermore, the resolution excludes annual air fare tickets from the fees.

Household service workers from the Philippines are paid KWD 850 per month. In contrast, household workers from India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal pay KWD 700 for their contracts. Furthermore, those recruited from African countries are charged KWD 500, while those with special passports are charged KWD 350.

In accordance with the decision's second article, those who violate the fees will be penalized. From the date of publication in the Official Gazette, the ministerial decision will be reconsidered.

Minister of Commerce and Industry Fahd Mutlaq Al-Shariaan issued a decision to re-form the Technical Committee for Infrastructure Equipment for Electric Vehicle Chargers (EVC), emanating from the Public Authority for Industry, reports Al- Qabas daily.

FILE – This Oct. 17, 2018 photo shows a Chevrolet Volt hybrid car charging at a ChargePoint charging station at a parking garage in Los Angeles. The country, and the world, will need thousands more for drivers to accept vehicles that are powered by batteries alone. But automakers and charging companies are struggling to raise the numbers now because they’re investing before demand arrives. With more than 40 fully electric vehicles on the market in the U.S. or coming within the next three years, however, auto and charging company executives say the demand is on the way.(AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

In this regard the minister said a list must be issued determining the international specifications for electric cars and the types of plugs that must be adhered to; setting the minimum technical requirements to be adhered to in the safety systems of electric vehicle charging stations; developing a road map for the locations of electric chargers and setting the technical requirements for installing chargers in homes.

Committee
The objectives of the committee are to setting unified requirements and conditions for the State of Kuwait, especially in the infrastructure of electric vehicles; setting a timetable for the completion of the requirements and the start of applying the requirements and distributing and defining the functions of the relevant government agencies.

The committee is chaired by the Public Authority for Industry, and its members includes representatives from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Kuwait Municipality, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Works, the Automobile Agents Union, the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport; the Environment Public Authority, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the Directorate-General of Fire Department, the Ministry of Interior and the General Administration of Customs.

The number of housing requests, according to the latest statistics issued by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, reached 94,379 as of the end of December 2021. This means that the state pays KD 14.15 million per month as rent allowance, which is set at KD 150, or about KD 169.8 million annually as rent allowance, reports Al-Rai daily.

According to the statistics, the amount of KD 169.8 million exceeds the cost of building a city such as South Saad Al-Abdullah City, which was about KD 136.6 million, by about a quarter (1.24 times). The city planned for completion in 2029 includes 30,000 units targeting beneficiaries of the residential care, as well as spaces designated for non-residential purposes to serve city residents.

Temperatures continued to set record in Kuwait exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. Jahra  recorded 53 degrees followed by Sulaibiya 52.1  degrees Celsius. According to Eldoradoweather.com Jahra was the hottest place on the planet, followed by Sulaibiya, Abadan in Iran 51  degrees Celsius and Nasiriya in Iraq was 50.8  degrees Celsius.

Weather will be very hot from Tuesday to Thursday with northwest winds bringing in dust will lead to decrease in visibility. Temperatures are expected between the range of 48 and 50 degres Celsicus in some areas.

Abdulwahab Al-Rasheed, minister of finance and minister of state for economic affairs and investment, claimed that the government has demonstrated a propensity to erect an entertainment complex in the location of the current Entertainment City.

According to Al-Rasheed, the concerned authority will provide all financial, economic, and technical studies for the development of the entertainment city project, in addition to cadastral plans and any studies related to the space, in light of the Cabinet's decision to allocate the entertainment city project to the state property department. In addition to the land uses, this (commercial, investment, or any other use). Al-Rasheed said that by making these requests, the technical team assembled by the Minister of Finance will be better able to work on creating suggestions. 

 Kuwait is witnessing extremely hot weather with humidity exceeding 90 percent specially in the coastal areas on Saturday, a senior meteorologist said. The high humidity and heatwave, resulting from southeastern wind, are expected to last until Monday when wind direction shifts to northwest, Dhrar Al-Ali, director of the observatory stations at the Meteorological Dept., told KUNA. He expected the temperature to rise above 50 Celsius degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. The temperatures exceeded over 50 Celsius degrees on Friday, Jahra station recorded 52.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Al-Abdali Agricultural 52.3, Al-Sulaibiya 52.1, Al-Sabriya 51.6, Al-Wafra Agricultural and Kuwait International Airport 51.5 degrees Celsius

The Cybercrime Department of the Ministry of Interior has warned members of the community against photographing and defaming others without their knowledge, in order to avoid falling foul with the law, reports Al-Jarida daily. The department stated in an awareness tweet that “the law punishes anyone who deliberately abuses and defames others, by photographing them without their knowledge and consent, and then publishing it through various media means.

In another , unrelated development , the Environment Public Authority (EPA) affirmed its keenness to monitor the quality of Kuwaiti water, in cooperation with various State authorities; indicating that the circulating video clip showing marine pollution and marine life in one of the sites inside Kuwait Bay is old, dating back to 2018, reports Al- Jarida daily.

The Health Insurance Hospitals Company (Dhaman) recently held a meeting with Deputy Director General for Organization Affairs in Kuwait Municipality Eng Muhammad Al-Zoubi, with Dhaman Chairman Mutlaq Al-Sanea and CEO Thamer Arab in attendance.

The meeting focused on the role that Dhaman will play in supporting the health sector and contributing to ongoing efforts to improve the quality of healthcare indicators; in addition to fulfilling the requirements for allocating land to build clinics for the company and role of the Municipality in various fields, which contributes to achieving the National Development Plan based on the New Kuwait Vision 2035.

It is worth mentioning that Dhaman is the first healthcare institution in the Middle East operating though the public and private partnership (PPP) system. It is the largest in Kuwait in terms of the number of individuals covered by health insurance. It will provide the new mandatory health insurance for about two million expatriates working in the private sector (Article 18 visa) and their families. , by Al-Seyassah & Arab Times daily

The Ministry of Health has approved 16 health centers in all health regions to provide the vaccination service against Covid-19, indicating that it will start the vaccination process at these centers starting from the Aug 10, 2022, from Sunday to Thursday from 3 pm to 8 pm, reports Al-Qabas daily. The sources added that the ministry has designated Abdul Rahman Al- Zayd Health Center in West Mishref to provide vaccination services with the Pfizer vaccine, the first and second doses for children from 5 to 12 years old, and the third booster dose from 12 to less than 18 years old, and the fourth booster dose to those 50 years and above, indicating that the other 15 centers will provide the Moderna vaccine doses.

The sources pointed out that the allocation of centers coincides with the imminent return of some families from abroad, and before the start of the school season in mid-September, especially with the increase in health awareness and the noticeable turnout during periods prior to the vaccination campaign that was launched in late December 2020, pointing out that they contributed to reaching positive indicators

According to the Traffic Department, the Fourth Ring Road to the intersection of Tunis Street and Beirut Street will be closed 

This will occur from tomorrow, Saturday, through the first day of September.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation's meteorological station reported that the country's temperature on Friday exceeded 50 degrees Celsius in stations under its jurisdiction. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), representatives from the DGCA said that the nation experienced extremely hot weather on Friday, adding that residents and citizens could feel the temperature increase.

With 52.8 degrees Celsius,Al-Jahra station led the way, followed by 52.3 at Al-Abdali Agricultural, 52.1 at Al-Sulaibiya, 51.6 at Al-Sabriyah, 52.8 at Al-Wafra Agricultural, and 51.5 at Kuwait International Airport. 

Ministry of Education Undersecretary Dr Ali Al-Yaqoub has formed a committee, headed by Assistant Undersecretary for Financial Affairs Youssef Al-Najjar with the directors of various departments as members, to work towards increasing rent for government buildings utilized by the private sector, determine the investment value of school playgrounds and canteens, and lay down a financial regulation specifying the new fees that will be submitted to the supervisory authorities for approval, reports Al-Rai daily quoting a source from the educational sector.

According to the source, the committee will hold its first meeting soon to determine the fees for using school facilities and submit its report within three months; indicating the rental fee for schools varies from one building to another in accordance with the number of classrooms. The source said many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private entities have submitted a request to uvse school playgrounds in the evening; hence, the need to implement a mechanism in this regard. He added the school canteens have presented many suggestions regarding their investment, as if they were exploited by Kuwait Flour Mills Company or managed by the owners of small enterprises, cooperative societies or feeding machines.

Meanwhile, a government source confirmed that there is no change in the subordination of government agencies to the ministers, and it will remain so in accordance with the latest decrees issued in this regard, reports Al-Qabas daily. In response to a posed by the daily, whether new decrees will be issued requiring the transfer of government agencies and bodies or not, the source added, “The subordination of the authorities will remain the same,” explaining that “the authorities are assigned to the ministerial portfolio based on the terms of reference.”

The Municipal Council Members have unanimously agreed on the need to develop the means of mass transportation in Kuwait to reduce traffic congestion in the streets, while finding new strategies that can be implemented and applied that support the proven and currently implemented solutions of building bridges, tunnels, etc., stressing that “the idea, if implemented, will succeed, but the matter needs seriousness, especially with recommendations in this regard within the fourth structural plan of the state,” reports Al-Rai daily.

In exclusive statements to the daily, the members called for launching awareness campaigns and motivational projects and unique monthly and annual discounts, through which people are urged to use public transportation instead of private cars, in order to reduce congestion and preserve the environment to reduce pollution emissions that result from traditional vehicles. The deputy head of the Municipal Council, Khaled Al-Mutairi, confirmed that the traffic congestion problem index is moving upward, and it is an existing crisis that increases with the increase in the population, and automatically with the increase in the number of cars, pointing to the inability of Kuwait’s streets to absorb, and the inability to keep pace with the development of most streets.

Quick solutions
He added that bridges and tunnels are one of the quick solutions that contributed to easing congestion and ease of movement between areas of Kuwait and pointed out that the metro and railways can be considered among the most important modern means to end the specter of traffic congestion, reduce accidents, in addition to developing the “smart” mass transit system in order to cover the diverse needs of citizens, shorten distance and time, and ensure the smoothness of roads.

Munira Al-Amir, a member of the Municipal Council, confirmed that mass transit, in its current situation, needs to be developed to upgrade it to the desired level, which contributes to reducing several crises, especially traffic congestion. general. Engineer Abdullatif Al-Daei, affirmed that in the event of concerted efforts, and taking matters seriously, the idea of mass transportation in Kuwait will certainly succeed, especially since there are recommendations in this regard within the fourth structural plan of the state, pointing out that this issue will solve many problems. problems at a lower cost, and it will also affect the quality of life, especially since the provision of mass transportation for citizens and expatriates at a high level will eliminate overcrowding.

Member Abdullah Al-Enezi explained that public transportation is efficient in cities, and can be used to solve many traffic jams if applied in a correct engineering and awareness way. The cost of public transportation is reasonable when compared to the cost of parking a car, so the idea of mass transportation is a successful In many countries, and certainly it will succeed in Kuwait, if many of the previous mistakes are avoided, for example, mass transportation must be equipped with all modern means to attract many of its users and have specific waiting sites equipped with possible amenities. For example, it can be launched Awareness and motivational projects and unique monthly and annual discounts that encourage people to use public transportation instead of private cars, in order to reduce congestion and preserve the environment to reduce pollution emissions that result from traditional vehicles.

The  General Directorate of Traffic  revealed that 8,000 driving licenses of expats were withdrawn in the first half of this year as they did not meet the conditions for granting them, in addition 50 driving licenses for Kuwaiti citizens were blocked due to their visual or mental disabilities.

Thousands of driving licenses were withdrawn of expats as conditions to obtain a driving license such as salary, profession and university degree which are a must to acquire, but after changing the job title and lowering the salary the license has been withdrawn automatically.

The sources stated that the Ministry of Interior has instructed to tighten the issuance of driving licenses and limit those only who meet all the conditions to acquire a Kuwait driving license. interlinking the system between the ministries and sharing the data has immensely contributed to reduce manipulation to obtain a driving license. Also those who had obtained driving licenses previously and changed their professions and exploited the conditions automated system reviews all the driving licenses granted to expats.

The Traffic department has blocked the driving license of expat students who have completed their studies. Also domestic workers who have been absconding from sponsors and work as a home delivery have been revoked, reports Al Rai. The manipulation to acquire or renew it has become difficult due to automated systems. The traffic department conducts regular security campaigns where they use an application either to block, cancel these driving licenses. 

The Undersecretary of the Traffic and operations department Major General Jamal Al Sayegh gave instructions not to be lenient in granting driving license to expats and to ensure all the conditions are met as set by the ministry such as Job Title, Profession, Salary, University Degree and Drivers license in home country.

These steps have led to a decrease in the percentage to obtain a driving license for expats by 50% in the current year. Driving tests conducted to acquire a driving license are strict, the license is granted only to those who pass theory and practical tests to ensure safety of the driver and others who drive on the road.