Abdullah Al-Turaiji, a Member of Parliament, has proposed a bill that would prevent expatriate employees from changing employers. Turaiji proposed that the interior ministry joins with other government departments to investigate the phenomena of workers, especially domestic workers, fleeing their employers, or what he referred to as "a heist of trained and skilled people" by other companies.
He explained that the first sponsor invests a significant amount of money and effort in training the workers, who then switch to another sponsor or business after gaining experience and earning a little better compensation. This is true for all types of expatriate staff, including lawyers, technicians, and domestic workers, he said. He proposed that an expatriate worker be allowed to transfer to another sponsor only if he leaves the country and that after five years abroad, he be granted a new visa.
He urged for the reform of relevant laws to ensure that workers are safeguarded in accordance with Kuwaiti law and international standards, while employers' rights are respected. He noted that, in addition to the greediness of some workers, many expatriate employees are victims of human traffickers who often encourage them to shift to another sponsor after working in Kuwait for one year.
*************************************
A white paper describing the use of RFID-enabled baggage tags at Delhi Airport arrivals was issued by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Wednesday. In Delhi, passengers will soon be able to track their baggage using RFID-enabled baggage tags at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI).
A white paper describing the use of RFID-enabled baggage tags at Delhi Airport arrivals was issued by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Wednesday. In Delhi, passengers will soon be able to track their baggage using RFID-enabled baggage tags at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI).
The Delhi Airport was the first in India to introduce the service in a statement by DIAL. A RFID-enabled personalized baggage tag, known as BAGG TRAX, has been introduced at IGI airport, a first-of-its-kind technology in the country that will provide information in real time about when and where a passenger's luggage will be delivered.
Flyers at the Delhi airport will soon be able to purchase the BAGG TRAX tags.
Pilot project participants in Terminal 3 are currently issued BAGG TRAX tags as a part of the project. Flyers can purchase the product at departures when it is commercially released.
The DIAL initiative is yet another step towards improving the airport passenger experience.
According to the text, BAGG TRAX will not only help those arriving domestically and overseas, but they will also be able to track their checked-in baggage while in transit as well.
Furthermore, it indicated that BAGG TRAX will make passengers' travel more convenient and enable them to better plan and manage their time during their arrival at the Delhi Airport.
By scanning the QR code on the box or visiting "Bag.Hoi.in", passengers can register their BAGG TRAX RFID luggage tag.
After registering their tags, travelers will receive a confirmation SMS on their registered mobile number. When the tags are successfully registered, travelers just need to tie them or place them in their luggage," the statement read.
As soon as their luggage arrives at the Delhi Airport, passengers will begin receiving SMS alerts from the airport with baggage details.
A message will be sent to their mobile device when their luggage is ready for pickup at the designated baggage belt, it explained.
*************************************
According to the Oxford Business Group website, the Gulf countries will revitalize the plan for the railway network between them after the many delays in the previous period. It is because this network constitutes a transformation of trade and linkage among the countries of the region, reports Al-Qabas daily. In a report, it explained that the project received a big boost in December when the leaders of the countries agreed on the establishment of the GCC Railway Authority.
This decision represents a potentially important development for the railway infrastructure in the region. The countries of the region had agreed to a railway project in 2009, but financial pressures led to the delay of the project. The delay was also linked to the drop in the oil prices in 2014 followed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The GCC railway project aims to connect the Gulf countries through a railway line of length 2,177 km, starting from Kuwait in the north, passing through the cities of Jubail and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, heading to Manama and Doha, then returning the line to Saudi Arabia before moving to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah, before reaching its final destination in Muscat. Regional media had reported earlier that the Gulf officials hope to operate the railway by 2025.
Transportation
This line will significantly improve regional communication by reducing transportation duration and costs between major cities and ports in the Gulf states, as well as improving trade exchange between the countries of the region, and attracting foreign investment. Shortening the travel duration using the Gulf railway may help boost the tourism and entertainment sectors of all the countries of the region. These two sectors are what a number of Gulf countries are seeking to develop in line with broader efforts to diversify their economies.
Building the Gulf railway is an important positive matter for regional cooperation and will support plans for more economic harmonization within the countries of the region. The report revealed that, “The development of the Gulf railway is in line with the efforts of each country to expand its local transport infrastructure. Amid global plans to reduce carbon emissions and improve connectivity, railways are seen as a key to the future of transportation in the Gulf states”.
The report highlighted examples of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar that developed their railway networks in isolation from the future development of the Gulf network. Other Gulf countries such as Oman hope that the Gulf railway plans will revitalize the delayed local railway plans. Similarly, the railway development projects in Kuwait faced several delays. It had announced plans to build a railway network of a length of 160 km in 2009 and connect it to the Gulf railway. The website concluded by saying that, despite the suspension of the railway construction project in 2015, Kuwait made plans in January 2020 to establish a railway consisting of 68 stations linking Kuwait City with the international airport, the university, and several residential and industrial areas in the country.
*************************************
A long meeting is scheduled to be held before the end of this week by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf with the assistant undersecretaries and directors of the ministry to discuss the new administrative structure and mechanisms for filling the vacant leadership positions.
Meanwhile, senior security sources revealed that a specialized committee has finished preparing a report concerning “demographic imbalance and ways to fix it”.
They explained that the report – which was commissioned by the political leadership – was handled with the highest levels of confidentiality and secrecy. It made it clear that it included an integrated vision and a long-term strategy to fix the imbalances in the demographics.
It included innovative and unconventional solutions, as well as “cruel and strict” measures to curb the visa trade, and turn the page on marginal and unnecessary manpower. The sources indicated that reforming the demographic structure will be a top priority for the next government.
They stressed that the draft law on regulating the residence of foreigners, which was referred to the parliament by the government and was approved by the Interior and Defense Committee, will be an important and landmark step in reform, especially as it grants the Minister of Interior wide powers in this regard.
The sources affirmed that the expected measures would constitute a break with the state of leniency and inaction that silenced the previous governments’ handling of the most serious issue.
They explained that the new package includes the following –
■ Adopt the “ratio and proportionality” rule in distributing expatriate workers from different countries and not focus on nationalities per se.
■ Distance the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education from providing any medical, treatment or educational services to expatriates and their children, and directing them to the private sector.
■ Grant the green light to the Ministry of Interior to use the power of administrative deportation for any violator.
■ Reduce and prohibit family visits for some nationalities.
■ Expedite the appointment of leaders in full capacity to take over the residency file. By Salem Al-Wawan Al-Seyassah Staff
*************************************
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has presented data to the Economic Affairs Committee in the Council of Ministers; showing a decline in the strategic stock of basic commodities compared to the ample supply recorded within the same period last year, reports Al-Rai daily quoting sources.
Sources revealed that frozen chicken is among the food commodities reported to have significantly decreased, especially when the war between Russia and Ukraine started. Sources said the current stock of frozen chicken can cover the need of the entire population of Kuwait for about 15 days, and one month for ration card holders. Sources added the stock of lentil for the whole population will last for about a month, and 608 days for ration card holders.
*************************************
Well-known Bollywood singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, died in Kolkata on Tuesday night, officials said. The 53-year-old artist was in the city for a performance at Nazrul Mancha.
Soon after the programme, the singer complained of feeling unwell when he was returning to his hotel around 10.30 p.m. He was declared dead on arrival at a city hospital.
VDO.AI
He was taken to a private hospital in south Kolkata where doctors declared him brought dead, they said.
West Bengal Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas said the family members of the singer have been informed about his demise and they are likely to arrive in the city on Wednesday.
Singer Anupam Roy and music director Jeet Ganguly accompanied Mr. Biswas to the city hospital, which also received a stream of visitors who flocked to it after hearing about KK’s death.
The post-mortem examination will be performed on Wednesday.
KK, known as a versatile singer, has recorded songs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali, among other languages. He also sang a number of ad jingles.
Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said KK will always be remembered through his songs.
“Saddened by the untimely demise of noted singer Krishnakumar Kunnath popularly known as KK. His songs reflected a wide range of emotions as struck a chord with people of all age groups. We will always remember him through his songs. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti,” Mr. Modi tweeted.
*************************************
French websites are full of advertisements promising that lasers can help you stop smoking with a "success rate of 85% ", but authorities and doctors are voicing worries about the accuracy of this technique.
Reports a local Arabic media, "Laser Smoking Control Centers" claims to offer guaranteed results for a year because the technique used by the clinics does not cause weight gain.
Based on "auricular therapy" developed from acupuncture, the developers of this technology affirm that the light laser stimulates specific areas of the outer ear, reducing smokers' desire for nicotine.
The French Society of Smoking's spokesman Daniel Tomat, ex-head of cardiology at the French hospital Pettier Salpetriere, said that smokers face great difficulty when they make attempts to quit several times.
Despite the fact that the cost of this method varies between 150 and 250 Euros (between 161 and 269) on average per session, several medical terms are used in the promises to quit smoking, including "clinics", "therapists" and "treatments".
According to the French Ministry of Health, "the effectiveness of this technique has not been proven." The Smoking Information section of the "TAPA Info Service" website emphasizes that "laser is not one of the approved and proven methods for getting rid of tobacco."
CCSS has warned about this technology since 2007, as well as supported it with campaigns promising to stop smoking, drinking, and using drugs.
After the laser session, some smokers may lose the desire to smoke precisely as a result of the placebo drug having an impact on them.
*************************************
Kuwait's Environment Public Authority is working with other government agencies and organizations to minimize dust storm eruptions.
In a statement, Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah, Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA), stated that afforestation would reduce dust storms.
At an EPA-organized workshop on Monday, Al-Sabah said that the authority will cooperate with different bodies to develop a new system and provide environmentally friendly solutions to reduce dust and stabilize the soil.
EPA officials are also planting trees along various routes to reduce dust in Kuwait with support from the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries.
Al-Sabah noted that the Environmental Protection Agency is developing methods for treating the water to address the seasonal fish deaths in Kuwait's bay because of the depletion of oxygen from the water.
*************************************
Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gained the ISO 9001 certificate for aviation data monitoring division, at the air navigation sector affiliated to DGCA. This is the second time for DGCA to win this certificate for organizing quality systems, after implementing International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirement, DGCA added in a statement to KUNA today. The data monitoring division conducted wide updates of its devices and systems to organize flight plans and navigational maps provided to users by airlines’ companies and aircraft operators by implementing a qualification plan that comes in accordance with quality department criteria, it said.
DGCA vowed to continue developing the quality management department to guarantee and ensure the safety, regularity and efficiency of international air navigation in the country, it added. ISO 9001 Certified means an organization has met the requirements in ISO 9001, which defines an ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS). ISO 9001 evaluates whether your Quality Management System is appropriate and effective, while forcing you to identify and implement improvements.
*************************************
The Minister of Commerce and Industry Fahd Al-Shariaan will be attending a meeting with the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, Sibi George in an effort to persuade the Indian government to exclude Kuwait from wheat ban exports against recent decision.
Kuwait and India enjoy historic trade relations between two countries, with the possibility of easing a ban on its wheat export as it has done with some other countries, reports Al Rai. Al Shariaan’s move towards India in this regard comes within the framework by the minister to ensure continuation of food grain flows to Kuwait in light of growing price increase in the global market.
*************************************
Kuwait’s cabinet on Tuesday said that the country has not seen any cases of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, underlining that stringent precautions are already in place to keep the illness at bay. Holding an extraordinary meeting to discuss the virus, Health Minister Dr. Khaled Al- Saeed analyzed global statistics on the spread of monkeypox, which show that the virus has appeared in a growing number of countries. Health Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Saeed said that Kuwait was taking necessary measures to prevent monkeypox infections. Speaking to the KUNA and Kuwait State Television after the cabinet’s meeting, Al-Saeed reaffirmed that there were no reported cases of monkeypox in Kuwait.
On a different issue, Dr. Al- Saeed indicated that the Ministry of Health was ready for the 2022 Hajj season, revealing that plans were set to enable Kuwaiti pilgrims to perform this sacred Islamic ritual. Vaccinations for COVID-19 and other aliments as well as PCR tests will be readily available at health centers and clinics for pilgrims prior to their departure to the Holy Land in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
On national commitments towards Kuwait’s food security, the cabinet reviewed the objectives of an ad hoc ministerial committee tasked with looking into the matter, which include efforts to ensure the adequate availability of major staples. The cabinet went on to wish the newly elected municipal council success as the body seeks to bring the wishes and aspirations of Kuwaitis to fruition. Kuwaiti Cabinet ratified on Tuesday, in its extraordinary meeting at Al-Seif Palace, headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, a decree naming several members to be appointed to the Municipal Council.
Appointing four women as Municipal Council members is a “historic precedent”, Minister of State for Municipality Affairs and Minister of State for Communications and IT Affairs Rana Al-Fares remarked on Tuesday. Al-Fares, in a press release, said the appointments show the necessity of empowering Kuwaiti women through selecting those skilled and qualified; help them practice their role in the council. She wished success to the new members at the council, which is likely to start its sessions in June. Earlier today, the Cabinet approved Tuesday a draft decree appointing Sharifa Al-Shalfan, Alyaa Al-Faresi, Munira Al-Amir and Farah Al-Roumi as council members, along with Ismael Behbehani and Abdullatif Al-Daie (KUNA)
*************************************
The General Directorate of the Fire Department reported that five fire fighting engines are battling a blaze at the Al-Rai tent market to prevent it from spreading into the surrounding areas.
Approximately 4,000 square metres of the fire site have been damaged. Tents and plastic materials used in tent manufacturing have been reduced to ashes.
*************************************
In Kuwait, local media reported a Jordanian family of six who had no source of income was deported.
As per Article 16 of the Foreigners Residence Law, the security services have the authority to deport expats if there is no income source. The family was deported to Jordan including the father, mother, four children aged 7, 5 and 3 as well as an infant.
In Kuwait, both the man and his wife lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and were left without any means of livelihood or shelter as a result of harsh economic conditions. They had to sleep at Shuwaikh beach, and use public toilets.
In response to a complaint concerning an openly sleeping family, security personnel approached them.
Because they did not have enough money to pay the apartment rent, and the accumulated rent forced them to leave.
They initially slept in their car, but after it broke down, they slept on the beach. They received food and drink supplies from others. They had no complaints, and their residence permits remained valid.
In light of their lack of income, the MOI administration decided to deport the family.
*************************************
An annual ranking of the world's biggest airports is published by AirHelp, a German claims management organization that specializes in airline disruption claims. Kuwait International Airport came placed second on a list of the world's ten worst airports, according to a recent publication...
On-time performance, service quality, and food and shops are the three criteria used by AirHelp to rank the world's biggest airports.
The worst airport in the world is Lisbon Portela Airport in Portugal, followed by Kuwait Airport and Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands.
Fourth on the list was Romania's Henri Coandă International Airport, followed by Malta International Airport, Manchester Airport, Paris Orly Airport, Porto Airport in Portugal, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in Canada, and London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, Qatar's Hamad International Airport topped the list of the world's greatest airports, outperforming 131 other airports with an overall score of 8.39 out of ten.
Passengers who rank their dining and retail options on a scale of one to five are also examined.
*************************************
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has officially agreed to lift the ban on 971 job grades for the second contract, out of the 1,303 job grades requested by the Ministry of Education to contract with non-Kuwaiti teachers for the 2022/2023 academic year, reports Al-Qabas daily.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Education, CSC affirmed the approval of the continuation to lift the ban on 299 vacant jobs in the remaining second contract of the previous 2021/2022 academic year, and lift the ban on 672 vacancies in the second contracts within the ministry’s 2022/2023 budget, which is the number of end-of-service decisions.
*************************************
The draft law on the residence of expatriates, which was recently approved by the Interior and Defense Committee in the National Assembly and related to granting real estate owners residence for a period of 10 years, is a new legislation to be presented for the first time which will help create new liquidity to help diversify the local economy and stimulate real estate transactions, reports Al-Qabas daily. However, some believe that the decision to encourage expatriates to own a property to obtain long-term residency has more negatives than positives if implemented, and it may affect the stability of the state in one way or another, as well as crowding out Kuwaitis who are looking for housing, in light of the housing crisis plaguing the country.
Therefore, the law — according to some experts — needs extensive and in-depth studies through which to determine the controls and conditions, before it is approved in its final version. In line with the decision, it has become necessary to develop legal legislation in relation to the system of non-Kuwaiti ownership of real estate, and the adoption of the mortgage law, as in most countries of the world, and this would move the economic wheel for various vital sectors, including, for example, providing an opportunity for local banks to achieve a volume of business, through good financing, the purchase of land, development and sale of apartments, recovery of contracting and insurance companies, engineering and consulting offices, in addition to revitalizing the building materials market, etc., which must be followed by the creation of job opportunities for thousands of Kuwaitis in these sectors.
Real estate experts considered the decision to grant expatriates who own real estate in Kuwait a 10-year residency as a positive step, which will achieve great benefits at the level of the real estate sector and the local economy in general, most notably supporting the government’s plans for economic diversification, developing the real estate sector, and reducing the percentage of vacant apartments; benefiting from the remittances of expatriates to be used locally in revitalizing the national economy, advancement of the real estate market, advancing economic development and stimulating the movement of real estate transactions and strengthening the legislative and legal environment to achieve the goals of Vision 2035 in its various economic and social aspects.
This is in addition to creating new liquidity to help develop the domestic product away from oil revenues, reviving the investment real estate sector and relieving pressure on private housing rented to expatriates, opening broad horizons for investors and real estate owners, given the expected investment returns to be reaped from the new owner of the real estate, benefiting from real estate fees in the development of the state treasury, the recovery of the work of private sector companies, including banks, insurance companies and contracting, and the creation of opportunities for thousands of Kuwaitis in these sectors and it will give the expatriate a sense of belonging and stability and the desire to invest their money inside the country.
The economists stressed the need for a number of legislations and conditions to be in place before applying the 10-year residency grant to non- Kuwaiti real estate owners, including, for example the ownership of the expatriate should initially be limited to the investment property of one apartment only for the purpose of family housing, determining the area allowed for the property to be acquired, determining the areas of ownership for non-Kuwaitis away from the areas of private housing, that the resident’s financial income allows him to buy the property he wants to own, he should not have been subjected to criminal judgments or breaches of honor and honesty throughout his stay in Kuwait and increasing residence fees and imposing a tax on real estate dealers (if the expatriate is allowed to trade) to contribute to the development of the state treasury.
Moreover, this will secure infrastructure services such as electricity, water, roads and others, establishing a mechanism to prevent the increase in the prices of land and building materials and developing legislation related to the system of non-Kuwaiti ownership of real estate. There is no doubt that there are some concerns that some citizens and economists may have regarding the new draft law, which – if implemented – will encourage expatriates to reside in Kuwait for the longest possible period.
*************************************
Due to engineering defects, and inability to complete necessary extensions for the electronic communication network, and to test the final form of the equipment and devices, the handover of Farwaniya Hospital could be delayed for up to 12 months.
According to local Arabic media, "the cause of the delays is due to the non-observance of technical specifications, as well as several changes in the project." The report also stated that an engineering inspection of the building found some needed demolition because of visible faults, and the completion of the connections requires a new change order and a new tender, which delays the delivery of the hospital, which was scheduled at the end of the month to complete its equipment for a period of up to 12 months.
A Ministry of Health source explained that "the Ministry of Health now has two options, either to take over the hospital at the beginning of next month, or to operate some departments in parallel with the launch of a new tender to implement the electronic network, or to refuse to take over the hospital until its work has been completed."
Two allegations of waste of public funds in projects related to the ministry were submitted by the Ministry of Health to the Public Authority for Anti-Corruption in 2020.
*************************************
According to local media sources, the National Petroleum Company has advised private Fuel Marketing Companies that charging 200 fills as a fee for filling cars with petrol is prohibited and would be recorded as a violation.
Earlier this year, the fuel marketing company 'Oula' announced that it would begin offering self-service at its petrol stations and would charge 200 fills if they required employee assistance. This is owing to a serious staffing shortfall they are now experiencing.
According to the source, the proposal of imposing a symbolic cost for the entire service was once again dismissed during a meeting between private fuel marketing companies and the national petroleum company.
*************************************
Rumors that a citation will be issued if a person drives a vehicle not registered to them have been denied by the General Directorate of Traffic.
According to GTD sources, a local Arabic publication reported that the motorist must produce a valid driver's license and insurance card.
ADVERTISING
As a result, there were 560 citations issued in the Mahboula area at the end of last week and part of a campaign organized by the traffic sector. Police arrested a number of motorists at the end of last week.
*************************************
Chairman of the parliament’s Committee of Interior and Defense Affairs MP Sa’adoun Hammad says the bill for amending the law of expatriates’ residency is aimed at confronting residency traffickers. He revealed that the bill aims at toughening the penalties against residency traffickers by a jail term of maximum five years and a fine of maximum KD 10,000.
MP Hammad cited articles 18 and 28 of the bill which imposes the aforementioned penalties and doubles them in case the convicted is a public sector official and in case the same crime is committed more than once.
*************************************
