A directive has been issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to revoke the licenses of companies and institutions that alter the appearance of vehicles significantly.

In a bid to enhance road safety and reduce accidents caused by unsafe vehicle modifications, the Ministry is preparing to launch a campaign targeting non-compliant entities in collaboration with the General Traffic Department. This campaign follows the publication of the decision in the Official Gazette, reported Al-Jarida Daily.

An increase in accidents involving vehicles that have undergone external modifications using potentially hazardous equipment led to the decision to revoke licenses. Additionally, accidents resulting from modifications to cruise control systems carried out by these institutions have raised safety concerns.

 

 

 

 

Abdullah Al-Rajhi, the official spokesman for the General Administration of Civil Aviation, stated that the company’s servers experienced a malfunction, which caused the system to stop for an hour due to an emergency technical defect.

This issue was not limited to Kuwait International Airport alone, as several airports worldwide faced the same problem. However, the defect was resolved, and the system returned to normal

 

 

 

 

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), plans to introduce a Unified Gulf visa system, akin to the Schengen-style visa, aimed at tourists.

JEDDAH. Saudi Arabia, Oct 10, (Agencies): In a bid to stimulate economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, plans are underway to introduce a Unified Gulf visa system, akin to the Schengen-style visa, aimed at tourists. This initiative, reported by Oman’s Minister of Tourism, is set to simplify travel for visitors to GCC member states, which include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. Travelers will soon be able to explore multiple countries within the region using a single visa.

The proposal for a unified Gulf visa has gained unanimous approval from GCC ministers of tourism, and they have invited feedback on the plan, with a deadline set for December. Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salim Mohammed al Mahrouqi, shared his enthusiasm about this development during the seventh meeting of GCC tourism ministers, which was chaired by Oman.

Minister al Mahrouqi stated, “The common tourism visa for the Gulf Cooperation Council is coming very soon,” highlighting the unanimous agreement on its importance. He expressed confidence in the forthcoming discussions that will lead to a comprehensive agreement on the unified visa.

The primary objective of the meeting was to enhance cooperation and promote tourism development within the GCC. Minister al Mahrouqi emphasized the broader goals, saying, “We aim to uplift the GCC’s tourism status, enrich our national economies, and meet our people’s aspirations.”

During the meeting, discussions also centered on the creation of a GCC Tourism Statistics Platform. Notably, the ministers approved the Gulf Strategy for Tourism 2023-2030, underscoring their commitment to implementing this strategy effectively through regular progress reports.

Recognizing the substantial potential of tourism in the Gulf peninsula, Jassim Mohammed al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, pointed out that it plays a vital role in sustainable development. He highlighted the presence of 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites across GCC states.

Al Budaiwi shared encouraging statistics, revealing that 2022 saw a record-breaking 39.8 million tourists visiting the GCC, marking a remarkable 136.6% increase compared to the previous year. Tourist spending also surged to USD 85.9 billion, representing a growth of 101.2%. Intra-GCC tourism constituted 29.7% of the total tourist numbers, marking a 98.8% increase compared to 2021.

Looking ahead, the GCC Tourism Strategy has ambitious goals, including an annual 7% increase in tourist arrivals until 2030. The strategy aims to boost inbound tourist spending by 8% and domestic tourist expenditure by 2.4% during this period, with a key objective being a 7% annual increase in direct GDP until 2030.

Ahmed Aqeel al-Khatib, Saudi Minister of Tourism, emphasized the importance of a joint vision, stating, “We’re considering establishing a unified Gulf statistics center and a common tourist visa system. With coordinated efforts, the GCC is poised to capture a significant share of the global travel market.”

Concluding the meeting, a proposal titled “Our Gulf, the Birthplace of Civilizations” was introduced, with member states expected to finalize their contributions by the end of 2023, as reported by ONA.

 

 

 

 

The first week of the launch of the annual vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia witnessed a strong turnout from various age groups. About 15,000 people appeared for vaccination against seasonal influenza and 2,000 for vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia in 50 preventive healthcare centers in the country.

According to informed health sources, the risk groups are the most likely to receive vaccination at a rate of 45 to 50 percent, led by patients suffering from asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, smokers, diabetics, employees of the Ministry of Health, and morbidly obese people. The average number of vaccination beneficiaries in each health region ranges between 2,000 to 3,000.

There is a high turnout for vaccination this year compared to previous years due to the collective awareness gained about the importance of immunization after the COVID-19 pandemic. The sources revealed the Ministry of Health’s plan to intensify awareness about the importance of vaccination by organizing many joint activities and events, adding that specialized health teams will be formed to conduct field tours and organize vaccination campaigns in coordination with various institutions and companies.

 

 

 

 

Instructions have been issued to impose strict restrictions on people who operate taxis illegally at the Kuwait International Airport. According to security sources, the instructions stipulate that any expatriate who is found operating a taxi from the airport should be deported. If he is a Bedouin resident, his car should be impounded for two months, and he should be detained by the traffic police for 48 hours for committing this serious violation.

The sources highlighted the numerous complaints received by the General Traffic Department from retired citizens who operate airport taxis, claiming that there are people transporting passengers in an irregular and illegal manner.

The sources said instructions were issued to traffic and investigation officers to intensify work around the clock, take the necessary measures to eliminate violators of traffic laws and rules, and allow passengers to be transported from the airport via official airport taxis only. They said traffic campaigns will be implemented on a daily basis by detectives and security personnel, and distributed in all parts of the Kuwait International Airport buildings.

 

 

 

 

The Kuwaiti sky will witness a partial eclipse with a full moon on Saturday, October 28, according to the Space Museum at the Sheikh Abdullah Al- Salem Cultural Center. KUNA reported today that the Earth's shadow obscures 6 percent of the moon's disk at its peak, and that this eclipse can be seen in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Western Australia, which indicates that it takes one hour and 17 minutes to complete. Khaled Al-Jamaan, the Center's General Supervisor of Museums and the Space Museum, told KUNA today, Monday. He added that this eclipse is the second and last for this year, noting that the next lunar eclipse will be on September 18, 2024. In his explanation, the eclipse will begin with the penumbra phase and then become an eclipse. The penumbra phase indicates a decline in the moon's illumination without the moon being eclipsed.

This phase begins at 9.01 p.m., then the partial eclipse phase begins at 10.35 pm and its peak is at 11.14 p.m. and ends at 11.52 pm. Al-Jamaan reported that there are three types of eclipse. Total eclipse occurs when the entire moon enters the Earth's shadow area and its disk is eclipsed, leaving the moon completely invisible at night, especially in desert regions. He explained that the second type is a partial eclipse, which occurs when part of the moon enters the Earth’s shadow area, causing part of the moon’s disk to be eclipsed. The third type is a penumbra eclipse, which occurs when the moon enters only the semi-shadow area, and the moonlight becomes dim without being eclipsed. As part of its plan to create an astronomical scientific archive of all astronomical phenomena in Kuwait's skies, the Space Museum plans to document the phenomenon.

 

 

 

 

 

In less than 5 months, the governments of the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have come a long way towards launching the “bullet train,” which indicates the depth of the relationship, agreement, and smooth dealing between the two brotherly countries, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The daily has learned that the Kuwaiti executive and supervisory authorities are racing against time to complete technical and legal approvals regarding paving the way for the implementation of the consultative agreement regarding the completion of a high-speed railway line that will connect Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Informed sources expected that all approvals related to the Kuwaiti side would be completed during the current month or next at the latest, in order to begin studying the financial, economic, and technical feasibility of the project, followed by the remaining steps to launch the subsequent stages, leading to the implementation process.

In June 2023, an Amiri decree was issued approving the agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the railway link project between the two countries. On September 26, the Saudi Council of Ministers also approved the railway link project agreement between Kuwait and the Kingdom, according to what was reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Qabas learned that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Public Works and the Saudi Railway Company (SAR), agreed to appoint the French company SYSTRA — one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups specialized in public transport and mobility solutions. For more than 65 years, the Group has worked alongside cities and regions to contribute to their development by creating, improving, and modernizing their transport infrastructures — to implement the feasibility study.

Informed sources revealed that, according to this agreement to appoint one consulting company, the Ministry of Public Works completed the contracting documents, and addressed the Audit Bureau therein, in order to obtain its approval to approve the consulting company SYSTRA, and the amount contracted with it, so that the Ministry can sign consulting contracts for the financial and economic feasibility study.

The sources said that the cost of the feasibility study for the link project rose to $10.57 million, equivalent to approximately 3.270 million dinars, to be paid equally between the two parties, with 1.635 million dinars for each party. It is expected that SYSTRA will complete the feasibility study for the railway link project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia Within a period not exceeding 6 months.

The sources explained that according to the agreement concluded between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the project of the two brotherly countries is a separate project and different from the railway project of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Regarding the “Gulf Train”, the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport about two months ago launched a special exercise to complete the feasibility study related to the project through the Central Agency for Public Tenders, and the offers of 9 local and international consulting companies competing to win the contract were accepted.

The sources indicated that the Roads Authority is now in the stage of sorting contracts to choose a company entrusted with conducting the feasibility study for the Gulf train project, expecting that the name of the winning consulting company will be announced before the end of this year.

The Kuwaiti-Saudi agreement stipulates that the railway line between the two countries will extend from the train station point located in the State of Kuwait — which will most likely be located in the south of the country — to the train station point which will be located in the city of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Project highlights

— May 23, 2023, the Saudi Council of Ministers authorized the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, or his representative, to discuss with the Kuwaiti side regarding a draft agreement between the government of the Kingdom and the government of the State of Kuwait regarding the railway connection project between the two countries.

— June 4, 2023, the agreement was signed in the cities of Riyadh and Kuwait through diplomatic channels.

— June 12, 2023, an Emiri decree was issued approving the agreement.

— September 26, 2023, the Saudi Council of Ministers approved the railway connection project agreement.

It is expected that within less than two months, Kuwait will sign a consulting contract to launch the project study process.

 

 

 

Several banks have expressed concern that expatriate bank accounts that have been deported may pose a risk to the financial system because fraudsters can exploit these still-open accounts to commit financial frauds or to launder money.

 

Around 30,000 deported persons have bank accounts with various commercial banks in the country, according to estimates. Regional and international criminal gangs may target these 'live' accounts to move their illegal funds without drawing attention to themselves. These accounts could also be used to recruit more expatriates for fraudulent operations, either directly or in exchange for fees. Even dormant accounts that lack funds can be vulnerable to hackers, who seek to penetrate them for the largest possible amount of personal data and password information, as well as financial information.

 

Banks warn that continued exposure to financial fraud gangs or those engaged in money laundering increases the vulnerability of the financial system. Accordingly, they have called on the authorities to establish an information link between banks and the Ministry of Interior so that the names of deported people are immediately provided to the banks, which can then freeze these accounts, especially accounts that lack funds.

 

The regulatory authorities, led by the Financial Investigation Unit of the Central Bank, are said to be monitoring the accounts of clients who have deposits in their accounts, have liabilities, or have job or commercial dues to pay that will be deposited later, subject to further scrutiny by the bank.

 

 

 

 

According to Al-Rai Daily, the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) has launched three new services through the government application “Sahl” that cover customs release, frequency spectrum, and individual requests.

Businesses and individuals can streamline customs-related processes by using CITRA's customs release services, which include import, temporary import, temporary export, and export requests.

Radio amateurs and marine radio operators can now apply for permits related to frequency spectrum services. Additionally, the application process for the release of communications equipment is now more accessible.

In addition, "Sahl" offers users the opportunity to request the blocking or unblocking of electronic content, giving them more control over their online experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Public Works is actively preparing for the impending rainy season, collaborating closely with relevant authorities, particularly Civil Defense and the General Fire Force, along with multiple organizations forming the Rain and Floods Consequences Committee, reports Al-Rai daily.

Reliable sources within the Ministry of Works informed the daily that “last week, the Rain and Floods Consequences Committee, comprising 15 agencies, convened to discuss the readiness of these entities for the upcoming rainy season.”

During this meeting, the committee members thoroughly examined the ministry’s plan and the specific tasks it will undertake. Each entity will execute its respective responsibilities in the event of heavy rain surpassing the drainage system’s capacity.

The sources further elaborated, “It was agreed that the emergency switchboards of the relevant authorities will be interconnected with the civil defense switchboard, ensuring seamless coordination of tasks among the involved parties.”

They emphasized that “the Ministry is currently engaged in activities such as cleaning manholes and drains, removing sediments and plankton that can obstruct rainwater drainage in certain areas.”

Additionally, they highlighted, “The Ministry will liaise with the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport to guarantee the secure operation of tunnel pumps, aiming to prevent any congestion, particularly during intense rain occurrences.”

Shifting the focus to the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy in readiness for the rainy season, ministry sources noted that the distribution networks sector is nearing completion of maintenance and isolation of roofs for secondary transformer stations requiring upkeep.

This measure aims to prevent any seepage into the station components during rainy periods. The sector has successfully finalized necessary maintenance work for approximately 90 percent of the insulation for stations’ roofs in need of attention.

 

 

 

 

Consultant endocrinologist and Head of the “Essentials of Endocrinology and Diabetes” conference Dr. Zidane Al-Mazidi yesterday highlighted the high rate of diabetes among children in the country, stressed that 40 out of every 100,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes every year.

In an exclusive press statement to Al-Seyassah on the sidelines of the inauguration of the two-day “Essentials of Endocrinology and Diabetes” conference, Dr. Al-Mazidi said, “Short stature is the most common endocrine disease among children in the country, followed by hypothyroidism, calcium deficiency, early puberty, adrenal and hypothyroidism, and undescended testicles in newborns.

Genes play an important role in endocrine diseases, as they represent approximately 10 to 20 percent of the causes of the disease.”

Dr. Al-Mazidi explained that the conference was organized by the Kuwait Society for Endocrinology, with the cooperation of the Kuwait Medical Association and the Dasman Diabetes Institute. An elite group of consultants and specialists in Kuwait, the Gulf countries and the world participated in the conference to discuss the latest therapeutic developments and to exchange experiences in this field.

The conference highlights the most important scientific developments in the treatment of diabetes and other issues related to endocrine glands, the importance of early diagnosis of these diseases, and the close link between obesity and diabetes.

It grants participants 14 points of continuing medical education from the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations.

Dr. Al-Mazidi expressed hope that the conference will come up with important recommendations that are in the interest of the health sector in the country.

He stressed the importance of such conferences that keep pace with the scientific development the world is witnessing, offer knowledge about the latest developments and research in the field of health care for patients with issues related to endocrine glands and diabetes, highlight methods for providing health care services and discuss what benefits medical personnel. 

 

 

 

An official memorandum showed that the Kuwaiti citizen, holder of a regular passport, can enter 50 countries without a prior visa, while he can obtain an electronic visa to enter 11 countries, and from the airport upon arrival to 32 countries around the world, reports Al-Rai daily. In response to a query by MP Osama Al-Zaid, Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah, said there are 104 countries on various continents for which the Kuwaiti citizen needs to apply for a visa from the embassies of these respective countries or through the offices approved by them, reports Al-Rai daily. The memorandum indicated that the 50 countries that a citizen can enter without a visa are as follows — 10 countries in Europe, 3 in the Australasia region and its neighboring countries, 7 in Asia, 4 in Africa, 13 in the Americas, and 13 Arab countries.

The countries for which Kuwaiti obtains a visa from the embassy are 36 in Europe, 7 in the Australasia region and its neighboring countries, 10 in Asia, 28 in Africa, 20 in the Americas, and 3 in Arab countries. The 11 countries in which a citizen obtains an electronic entry visa are 4 in Europe, 3 in Asia, 2 in Africa, and 2 in the Americas. As for the countries where the citizen obtains a visa from the airport are 5 in Australasia and its neighboring countries, 12 in Asia, 13 in Africa, 1 in the Americas, and one Arab country.

 

 

 

 

The Acting Secretary General of the Municipal Council (MC) Dr. Fahad Al-Otaibi issued an administrative circular yesterday to declare that the official working hours in the Secretariat General of the Municipal Council will be as per the flexible working hours, which is seven working hours from Sunday to Thursday.

According to the circular, the start of work will be between 7:00 am and 9:00 am. An employee is allowed to report at any time within that period, and they can leave work after completing seven working hours from the time they reported to work.

This timing is applied without prejudice to the grace period specified for the employee at the beginning of the work which is 30 minutes, or the 15-minute grace period set for female employees at the end of work, or the permission system or other rules and provisions contained in Civil Service Council Resolution No. 41/2006 regarding the rules and provisions governing flexible official work in government agencies. The circular specified three controls for calculating the grace period and the delay period for reporting at the beginning of work, as follows:

1. The grace period is calculated at the beginning of the work day after the end of the last attendance time, that is, after 9:00 am.

2. The minutes of delay at the start of work are calculated after the end of the grace period set at the start of work from 9:30 am.

3. The hours for seeking permission to leave work are calculated after the employer approves, at the beginning of the work day from the time specified by the employee during the period from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.

The aforementioned controls are not applied to those subject to reduced working hours or those subject to the system of partial absence without pay for any reason.

The working hours for this category are from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm or from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, or from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm or from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. In addition, the employees in the aforementioned category are obligated to notify the Administrative Affairs Department about the timings they have chosen through their departments, within five working days of the issuance of the circular.

 

 

 

 

The Minister of Health, Ahmad Al-Awadhi, has approved the imposition of 2,176 fines on several companies with contracts with the Ministry of Health since April 1, reports Al-Rai daily. Reliable sources indicated that these penalties, which are part of safeguarding public funds, were imposed on various companies involved in health service implementation or the supply of medical consumables.

These companies were fined and penalized by the Ministry of Health according to the correct contractual procedures, with a total of approximately 5 million dinars. The sources affirmed that these penalties were imposed to uphold the protection of public funds and to enforce penal conditions outlined in the contracts signed between the ministry and the concerned parties. This number of fines is being applied for the first time, and these measures are intended to address years-old observations from regulatory authoritie

 

 

 

 

During the second quarter of this year, Kuwaitians spent about 1.016 billion dinars on travel, a decrease of about 25.3% compared to the first quarter of 2023, where they spent about 1.36 billion dinars. In contrast, Al-Rai daily reports that spending increased by about 21.6% compared to last year's second quarter — 835.8 million dinars. In the first half of this year, total travel expenses reached 2.377 billion dinars, up 20.5 percent from 1.972 billion dinars in the first half of last year.

As of the second quarter of 2023, remittances from expatriates were about 1.168 billion dinars, a decrease of 5.6% compared to the first quarter, which totaled 1.237 billion dinars, according to the Central Bank of Kuwait's balance of payments report. As compared to its level of 1.495 billion dinars in the second quarter of 2022, it decreased by about 21.9 percent.

 

 

 

 

Banks and telecommunications companies in Kuwait are becoming more sensitive to the risks posed by the increasing number of expatriates being deported from the country. Banks are concerned about the potential exploitation of bank accounts belonging to deported expatriates, as well as the possibility of fraudulent and financial fraud operations against citizens and residents. They are examining a procedural mechanism to identify the names of deported expatriate workers to secure their banking systems.

There are approximately 30,000 bank accounts, equivalent to the number of expatriates deported from Kuwait since the beginning of the year, which pose security risks to the financial system. Banks fear that these accounts will be exploited by financial fraud gangs that recruit more expatriate workers for fraudulent operations.

Telecommunications companies and banks are also concerned about the possibility of financial fraud gangs exploiting the phone lines of deported expatriates to communicate with citizens and residents for financial fraud, reports Al Rai. To protect bank accounts from hackers, consumers should use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and ensure that they are on their bank or financial institution’s website or app when transacting business. Banks are obligated to alert regulators and law enforcement through a Suspicious Activity Report if there is irregular behavior that they cannot easily explain. The financial services marketplace continues to become more disaggregated, and consumers are bundling services and providers (bank and nonbank) in new and interesting ways.

This disaggregation may provide greater choices for consumers but also may make it more difficult for consumers to clearly distinguish differences between bank and nonbank products and to understand the protections available, such as deposit insurance. More consumers became banked and sustained their banking relationship through financial distress, and initiatives to bank consumers at opportune moments have existed for some time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information has recently been circulating on social media that the Internet will be cut off on October 11 due to geomagnetic storms. On the basis of rumors, suspicions and expectations, stories spread quickly among social media users.

Al-Seyassah daily followed up on what was happening on social media platforms in order to clarify the facts and highlight the government’s role regarding the phenomenon, by posing questions to experts in fields of IT and cybersecurity, in an investigative report in this regard.

The experts emphasized that just talking about something like this requires the government to take all measures and precautions, even if the possibility of it happening is weak.

They called for making backup copies of databases and strengthening computers with programs to protect against piracy and viruses.

Professor of Information Technology at Kuwait University Dr. Ahmed Al-Munees indicated that the possibility of a global Internet shutdown on October 11 due to a geomagnetic storm is just a rumor, stressing that the last geomagnetic storm was before the current technology.

He said, “However, the state must make backup copies and keep them permanently, as well as strengthen computers with anti-piracy and anti-virus programs on an ongoing basis, and take all security precautions related to cyber security.

Geomagnetic storms cause electromagnetic flares that may reach the Earth and cause distortions on the Internet or the cables that connect the continents of the world. However, the possibilities are very weak, especially since most cables are usually established under a strong structure capable of confronting these risks.

As it was mentioned that cutting off the Internet is a common occurrence and some geographical areas may be affected by it, the percentage of impact will be limited.”

Dr. Al-Munees reiterated that a global Internet shutdown is a rumor, indicating that such a rumor occurred five years ago, “but Kuwait must take into account all possibilities”.

 

 

 

 

 

60 workers, including 34 Indian nurses who were arrested in a security raid at a clinic in Kuwait City last month, have been released after being detained for 23 days. Reports suggest that the release was facilitated by the intervention of higher authorities, following appeals from relatives of those arrested, tweeted the Indian Embassy.

Among those detained were women who had recently given birth, as well as individuals who had been working legally at a private clinic for several years. The Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, and the Indian Embassy in Kuwait also played a role in securing the release of the Indian nurses. It remains unclear why the group was arrested in the first place, but their release is being hailed as a positive outcome for all those involved.

 

 

 

 

Drug Inspection Department of the Ministry of Health closed a famous medical center in Salmiya, which included an unlicensed nursery in the basement of the center, in violation of the license. The Ministry of Health announced that inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the participation of employees from the Health Licensing Department, Immigration Affairs Investigations, and the Public Authority for Manpower, closed the center.

The Ministry of Health explained that a number of secret unlicensed warehouses to store medicines and cosmetics for the purpose of selling to the public were discovered. All these medical items were seized, due to the failure to meet storage and general hygiene conditions, in addition to the center not obtaining the Ministry of Health’s approval to possess the medicines.

Violation reports were also issued against a number of employees practicing the medical profession and technical assistant professions without the necessary license to do in the State of Kuwait. In this regard, the Director of the Ministry of Health’s Drug Inspection Department Dr. Reem Al- Essa stressed the need to adhere to the laws regulating the practice of the pharmacy profession. She said the department continues to monitor the distribution of medicines and health materials, and ensure that efficient, quality medicines, which are stored in a manner that meets the necessary requirements, reach patients and consumers.

Dr. Al-Essa affirmed the keenness to implement the provisions of control over the practice of the pharmacy profession and the circulation of medicines in the private sector in the State of Kuwait, and to activate law No. 28/1996, amended by law No. 30/2016 regarding regulating the practice of the pharmacy profession and the circulation of medicines, and the ministerial decisions regulating it.

 

 

 

 

 

Najat Al-Yousef, Acting Deputy Director General for National Employment Development at the Public Authority for Manpower, has disclosed an ongoing project aimed at revising and modernizing the proportions of national labor within the private sector. In a statement, she outlined that the Authority is meticulously assessing proposals and insights presented by various stakeholders concerning labor market regulation, including suggested rates, fees, and Kuwaitization of job roles. Upon completing the evaluation and deliberation process, the Authority compiles the proposal and forwards it to the relevant minister for subsequent submission to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Al-Yousef emphasized that the Kuwaitization program is applicable across the board, encompassing cooperatives, corporations, banks, and major institutions. The Authority, through its National Labor Development sector, plays an active role in this initiative. The Career Guidance Department, staffed by specialized professionals, conducts one-on-one interviews with job seekers interested in positions within the private, cooperative, or oil sectors.

Furthermore, they organize guidance activities to aid individuals seeking employment in the private sector. In a separate development, sources have disclosed a recent meeting convened at the Civil Service Commission, involving various government agencies, including the labor sector. During the meeting, there was a collective call for prioritizing the appointment of male and female citizens within the private sector, while ensuring they receive all necessary assurances and support. Inquiries were also made regarding the labor support budget, its total cost, and the number of beneficiaries, with preparations underway for potential increases in this allocation.

Citizens were encouraged to consider employment opportunities within the private sector. On Monday, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to executing essential plans and procedures aimed at achieving the objectives of demographic modification and labor market development within the State of Kuwait.

Following a meeting of the National Committee for Demographic Adjustment and Labor Market Development, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled stressed the imperative to make progress in realizing the goals outlined in the executive regulations of the Demographics Law. These regulations are designed to serve the best interests of Kuwait and its citizens.

Furthermore, he emphasized the need for expeditious implementation of all projects that contribute to the creation of employment opportunities for Kuwaiti youth. This statement was issued by the Security Relations and Media Department. Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled expressed his appreciation for the dedication and efforts of the National Committee members who are actively addressing demographic imbalances and labor market challenges within the State of Kuwait. He expressed hope for their success in fulfilling their responsibilities.

During their meeting, the Committee deliberated upon the current state of the population structure, the challenges it confronts, and strategies for labor market development to enhance job prospects for the youth. They also discussed methods to strike a balance among various sectors and ensure the sustainability of their efforts. The Committee conducted a thorough review of the latest economic and social developments, assessing their impact on demographic composition and labor market requirements. They also explored mechanisms for enhancing vocational education and training to ensure that educational outcomes align with the evolving demands of the labor market. It is worth noting that the Council of Ministers had previously endorsed the formation of this committee on May 8th. The committee, chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, also included representatives from several government agencies.