The New Maternity Hospital is the first medical project in the Middle East that has one specialty, built at a cost of KD 220 million. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Public Works in Kuwait, the hospital is three times larger than the old one and expected to be ready by the first quarter of 2023.

Kuwait Times spoke with Meshaal Al-Enezi, Project Engineer at the New Maternity Hospital, about the project’s details.

Kuwait Times: Where is the project located and how many floors and departments does it have?

Meshaal Al-Enezi: The project is located in the Al-Sabah medical zone opposite the existing maternity hospital in a prime location on the Arabian Gulf coast, and comprises of four main buildings interlinked by air-conditioned bridges. The main hospital consists of a basement and a six-floor podium topped by three towers ranging from 13 to 17 floors. The outpatient building consists of two car parks, a basement, ground and five floors. The multistorey car park consists of two basements, ground, five floors and a shaded parking roof. The central utilities building houses all MEP equipment and is connected to the main hospital building through a 51-m-long services tunnel.

The New Maternity Hospital is a state-of-the-art specialized hospital having all clinical and non-clinical departments related to obstetrics and gynecology diagnostics and treatment including an emergency ward, laboratories, pharmacies, radiology, intensive care units for adults and neonatal patients, outpatient clinics and nutrition services, besides the administration, engineering and general services support departments.

KT: Going deeper into the details of the projects, who are the people involved in the construction, and why this design?

Enezi: The parties involved in the design and construction of this project are:

End-user/beneficiary: Ministry of Health

Client: Ministry of Public Works

Consultant for design review and full onsite supervision: Pan Arab Consulting Engineering

Main Contractor and Designer: Impresa Pizzarotti Co, assisted by a consortium of international healthcare consultants, Studio Altery, local consultant S Al-Marzouk and AbiHanna SSH.

65 specialized subcontractors executing all kinds of works including medical equipment and medical and non-medical furnishings.

KT: What are the tasks and works of the projects? What are the phases involved?

Enezi: The project is a design and build project. It has six main phases, specifically concept design, schematic design, design development, final design, and then the ongoing construction phase, followed by completion of works and handing over to MoH in the operation and maintenance phase.

Among the top 10 hottest countries in the world on Saturday, El Dorado Weather cited Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman as the top three Arab nations.

Saudi Arabia will experience a heatwave with temperatures expected to reach 50 degrees Celsius in some regions, while Amara, a city in south-eastern Iraq, recorded a blistering 50 degrees Celsius.

The hottest place on Earth was Kuwait's Al Jahra, which recorded 49.3°C, while Oman's Fohoud recorded 48°C, making it the 9th hottest country in the world.

From Sunday through Wednesday, the Saudi National Centre of Metrology has projected a heatwave in some parts of the Kingdom that may exceed 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

It also expects temperatures of 47 and 50 degrees Celsius to prevail in most of the governorates of the Eastern Province and in the areas between Medina and Yanbu.

Riyadh, Al Qassim, and the northern border are expected to experience temperatures of 45 and 47 degrees Celsius.

In order to ensure everyone's safety, the NCM requested that they follow any instructions given to them by the appropriate authorities.

The heatwave that hit southern Europe is expected to exceed all previous records, even as some Arab countries topped the list of the world's hottest nations.

In the midst of heavy storms and torrential rain in Saudi Arabia, the regions of Jazan, Asir, Al Baha, and Mecca are likely to be affected, only one month after sandstorms ravaged the region. The eastern region, extending to Riyadh, will also continue to feel active winds.

In the Kingdom, Mecca recorded the highest temperature of 45°C on Wednesday. Almost one million Muslims will come to the holy city to perform haj rituals this year, and temperatures are expected to reach 50°C there according to the metrology centre.

As of Monday, June 20th, the Embassy will relaunch its BLS Outsourcing Center at Jleeb Al Shuwaikh (Abbasiya) in Kuwait.

At the BLS Centers in Abbasiya, operating hours have been revised to 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. on Saturdays through Thursdays. We will not be open on Fridays.

Additionally, the Fahaheel center will be open from 8 A.M. till 6 P.Mbetween Saturday and Thursday. The center will be closed on Friday.

As of Saturday to Thursday, Kuwait city center will operate in two shifts, 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Kuwait city center will be open 4.00 P.M. through 8.00 P.M. Friday.

To obtain further information or assistance, please call or text the BLS Helpline at +96522211228 (Phone) or +96565506360 (WhatsApp).

‘Employer can modify employee’s name, educational qualification data, passport data’

KUWAIT CITY, June 19: The Public Authority for Manpower launched on Sunday the service of amending the data of a worker’s permit through the electronic service ‘Ashal’ for business owners. Director of Public Relations at the authority, Aseel Al-Mazyed, said in a press statement that this service enables the employer to modify the worker’s name, educational qualification data, passport data, in addition to the worker’s data, Al-Mazyed explained that if the amendment request is accepted, the visa data will be modified through electronic linkage with the Ministry of Interior systems.

She pointed out that one of the conditions of service is that the profession to be modified should be allowed to assess the need, and it is not possible to change to the profession of a driver. (KUNA)

There are Kuwaiti youth who aspire to not only implement the entire Kuwaitization plan on the ground, but also qualify to take up leadership positions and undergo training in professions that have been dominated by expatriates for a long time, reports Al-Qabas daily. While the aspirations of the younger generation are increasing to achieve 100 percent Kuwaitization rate, this file has been highlighted in many dialogues and discussions, especially after the Civil Service Council issued the decision regarding the rates of Kuwaitization in job groups in the ministries and government offices.

The five-year period specified by the decision is fast approaching expiry, and functional groups were able to achieve the required Kuwaitization rate. At the level of ministries and government offices, the rate of non-Kuwaiti workers in each ministry varies from one another, compared to the nature of work and the number of total employees. According to the latest available official statistics on labor market information issued by the Central Statistical Bureau for December 2021, the percentages of non-Kuwaiti workers in 17 government agencies, which are all ministries in the country, were determined.

The highest percentage of non-Kuwaiti employees are in the Ministry of Health with 54.6 percent non-Kuwaitis. This is followed by the Ministry of Education with 20 percent non-Kuwaitis. The increase in these percentages is due to the fact that the Kuwaitization decision did not include medical jobs as well as some teaching specializations due to the scarcity of national cadres for these jobs. On the other hand, the lowest percentage of non-Kuwaiti employees was in the Ministry of Defense with 0.8 percent, and then the Ministry of Oil with 0.9 percent

Ranked
The Ministry of Communications ranked third in terms of the lowest percentage of non-Kuwaiti employees with 1.5 percent, followed by the Ministry of Public Works with 1.8 percent, then Ministry of Commerce and Industry with 2 percent, the Ministry of Finance in in sixth place with 2.7 percent, and then the Ministry of Interior with 2.8 percent. In eighth place is the Ministry of Electricity and Water with three percent non-Kuwaiti employees out of the total employees in the ministry, followed by the Ministry of Labor Affairs with 3.2 percent.

In tenth place is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 3.7 percent, and then the Ministry of Higher Education with 7.3 percent non-Kuwaiti employees. The Ministry of Justice then came in with 8 percent, then the media with 9.7 percent, and finally the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs with 10.6 percent of non-Kuwaiti employees.

According to informed sources, the percentages of non-Kuwaiti employees in government agencies will reduce further due to the measures taken in the Kuwaitization file, as the authorities are being asked to end the services of non-Kuwaiti employees in accordance with the decisions of the CSC, and not to accept any application for the appointment of non-Kuwaitis employees in jobs where national cadres are available. The non-Kuwaitis in the ministries are mostly the employees of the service job group, which are jobs that are not attractive to national cadres.

Also, the Kuwaitization rate required in these jobs is considered the lowest compared to some other job groups, as the target Kuwaitization rate is 85 percent due to the nature of some of the tasks included under this group. The sources concluded by saying that they hope the ministries will soon achieve a higher Kuwaitization rate by preparing national cadres to carry out most of the tasks of the functional groups.

Kuwait is home to more than 217,000 millionaires, making it the second largest country in the Middle East.

More than 217,000 millionaires reside in Kuwait, making it the second largest country in the Middle East for millionaires.

Kuwait ranks 18th globally in the number of millionaires, according to the World Wealth Report 2022 published by Capgemini Research Institute for Financial Services. The number of Kuwaiti millionaires increased by 6.1 percent from 205,000 in 2020 to 217,000 in 2021. 

According to the global ranking, Kuwait is following Saudi Arabia, which saw an increase of 6.8 percent in millionaires from 210,000 to 224,000. Saudi Arabia is ranked 17th globally, followed by Kuwait.

According to the report, the Middle Eastern Middle class has grown by 5.5% while their wealth has grown by 6,3% mainly because of technology and a recovery in crude oil prices. In response to a rise in the stock market, the wealthiest people's incomes increased by 7.8% to 8%.

US, Japan, Germany, and China were the top-four countries in 2021, accounting for 63.6 per cent of the global high net worth population (HNWI), up from 62.8 per cent in 2020.

Global population growth and wealth growth were led by ultra-high-net-worth individuals ($30m+), respectively, at 9.6% and 8.1%. Those living in the Millionaires Next Door ($1-5m) group grew at a slower rate (7.7%) and gained the least wealth (7.8%).

The population and wealth of the Mid-Tier Millionaires ($5-30m) increased to 8.5% and 8.4%, respectively.

On Sunday and Monday, the country will have very hot weather, with maximum temperatures ranging between 50 and 53 degrees Celsius, according to Meteorologist Fahd Al-Otaibi...

As a result of being affected by Iraqi dust, Al-Otaibi expects dust to prevail throughout the nation on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, resulting in a fall in horizontal visibility to 800 metres in some regions.

 June 19, 1961 has always been engraved in hearts and minds of the Kuwaiti people. It was the day the State of Kuwait announced its independence and sovereignty as an Arab nation. The historic day marked the beginning of modern Kuwait. It was the day when the declaration of independence was signed and the protectorate treaty with the British Government ended, the first step towards prosperity and development. The late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah realized that the protectorate treaty, signed by Sheikh Mubarak Al- Sabah in 1899, was not valid anymore because of the development of the political and economic conditions in the State of Kuwait. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem announced the cancellation of the treaty by signing the declaration of independence with the British Government Chief Political Resident in the Arabian Gulf Sir George Middleton.

Memorable
“On this memorable day of our beloved nation, on which we move from one phase to another of history and fold another page of the past with all its components and contents, to open a new page represented in this declaration which you read now, whereby Kuwait gained its full independence and sovereignty,” Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem said after signing the declaration. The first independence anniversary was held in 1962, and a decree was signed on May 18, 1964 which merged the national day with the day in which Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem assumed office, making it February 25. Celebrations were held on the day as of 1965. Since assuming office in 1950, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem took carefully studied steps towards independence, achieving stability and instructing the writing of the nation’s Constitution. On September 7, 1961, an Amiri decree was signed specifying the shape and colors of the Flag of Kuwait. The State of Kuwait became member in the Arab League on July 20, 1961. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem signed a decree on August 26, 1961 to hold elections of the Constituent Assembly, which had a mandate of writing a constitution. The 183-article constitution was completed in nine months.

Progress
The Constitution was a gift for the Kuwaiti people, putting them on path of progress and prosperity as well as offering a new democratic life. The 15-year reign of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem, who was called “father of independence” and “father of constitution”, was full of achievements. The State of Kuwait accomplished 43 laws and legislations, including the nationality law, monetary law, passports law and the organization of government departments. New departments were established in order to cope with the development of the nation, like public works, health, publication, knowledge, municipality, post and telephone, electricity and water, social affairs, awqaf, radio and television. Over 61 years, the State of Kuwait took steady strides towards comprehensive development, supporting international legitimacy and human rights, rejecting interference in affairs of other countries, as well as being a strong believer in the role of the UN in protecting international peace and security. (KUNA):

The real estate data issued by the Turkish authorities show Kuwaitis ranked fourth in terms of foreigners buying real estate in Turkey last May, reports Al-Qabas daily. Data issued by the Turkish Statistical Institution indicated that Kuwaitis bought 130 properties last May, ranking fourth, while Russians topped the list by purchasing 1,275 properties, and Iranians came in second place with 736 properties, then Iraqis with 617 properties.

The data added Istanbul topped the Turkish city selling real estate to foreigners last May, with 2,451 properties sold and followed by Antalya overlooking the Mediterranean with 885 properties followed by Mersin with 264 properties. The sources indicated that real estate sales to foreigners increased 70 percent from January to May, compared to the same period in 2021, when 26,753 properties were sold. The TSI announced last January that Kuwaitis ranked seventh in terms of foreigners buying real estate in Turkey last year, buying 1,791 properties.

The traders at the Sharq fish market had recently received the news that the prices of imported fish had been raised. However, they did not believe it until after some cartons were received. They were surprised by the increase in the prices by more than 40 percent, which adds to the already-existing challenges with the consumers, reports Al-Anba daily. The fish cartons from Turkey had the lion’s share, as a trader must pay KD 30 for a carton of 500 kilograms of fish and sell it at KD 33. The previous price was KD 22 and was sold at KD 22.5.

As for cartons containing 600 to 800 fish and of weight 700 or 800 kilograms, the trader used to buy them at KD 25 or KD 26 each carton, and sold at KD 3 per kilogram. It is currently bought for KD 34, and sold at KD 3.4 or KD 3.750 to the consumer. Cartons with 1,000 fish were bought by traders for KD 27, but they now cost KD 39. Consumers buy them at KD 4.250 per kilogram.

As for Norwegian fish, the traders buy them at KD 100 per carton, and a kilogram of the fish was sold for KD 5. But now it costs KD 5,250 per kilogram. Both traders and consumers expressed displeasure and resentment, as the traders were not informed of the price hike at such a rate, and the consumers ended up accusing the sellers of being greedy and crooks.

This prompted the traders to appeal to the concerned authorities through the daily to intervene, reduce and control the prices, protect the consumers, and put up fish in auctions or prevent the import of fish from Turkey. Some traders explained to the daily that what is happening has caused a lack of confidence in them and a decrease in the rate of customers by 20 percent. They explained that they pay KD 600 as rent, and KD 900 for three workers, with the absence of a local competitor to the importer, adding that the increase is from the source. The trader revealed that the price of porgy fish is KD 4, silvery croaker KD 4, and greasy grouper KD 7.

The country’s labor force decreased by 111,000 workers in the past year, according to official statistics issued on Wednesday by the Central Statistical Bureau concerning the labor market, reports Al-Qabas daily. The total labor force in the private and public sectors in Kuwait amounted to 1.8 million male and female workers as of the end of December 2021, compared to 1.993 million workers in the previous year. While the number of Kuwaiti workers in the labor market increased, the number of non-Kuwaiti workers of both genders declined as of the end of 2021 to 1.452 million, which is a decrease of about 134,000 workers from the previous year.

On the other hand, the number of Kuwaiti workers in the Kuwaiti labor market increased to 430,128 workers as of December 2021, which is an increase of 24,000 from the previous year. This led to an increase in the percentage of Kuwaiti workers in the total labor market to about 22.8 percent compared to 77.2 percent of non-Kuwaiti workers. This is considered progress for Kuwaiti workers, as their share in the labor market as of the end of 2020 was about 20.4 percent compared to 79.6 percent of non-Kuwaitis.

PAM may suspend transferring work permits to newly recruited out-of-country workers after three years, according to Al-Seyassah.

According to the paper, workers are able to transfer to the same category after this three-year period. More than 28 activities are included in this list, including government-owned companies or those in which they contribute more than 25 percent, as well as hospitals, pharmacies, medical laboratories, banks, insurance companies, banks, private colleges, universities, private schools, and training institutes.

The list includes nurseries, sports clubs, trade unions, cooperative societies, cooperative trading societies, nonprofits, charities, engineering, legal, and financial consulting firms, broadcasting stations, farming, fisheries, sheep and camels, newspaper and magazine publishing, and commercial real estate.

From Wednesday, 15 June, 2022, the outsource center in Fahaheel for passports, visas, and counselors of the Indian Embassy will be open to the public according to the revised working hours.

From Saturday to Thursday, the Fahaheel BLS center at Al Anoud Shopping Complex, Mecca Street, will be open from 8 A.M. until 6 P.M. Tokens will be issued at 5.15 P.M. There will be no service on Friday.

The BLS center at Kuwait city will continue to work from 7.30 A.M. till 9.30 P.M. on Saturdays through Thursdays, and from 2.30 P.M. through 9.30 P.M. on Fridays. The last token issuance will be tonight at 8:45 p.m.

For assistance, please call +96522211228 (Phone) and for WhatsApp (+96565506360).

They discovered a number of serious violations in some clinics in Hawally governorate, while the joint committee of PAM, Medicine Inspection Department, and Medical Licensing Department of the Ministry of Health raided them. Among these are practicing medicine without a license, hiring unauthorized employees, and selling expired medical supplies.

 PAM and MoH have both confirmed that the Asians operating in Salmiya clinics are neither doctors nor medical technicians. During the joint inspection, many domestic workers were found to be practicing nursing. Another doctor was found to have been practicing with a license and work permit that had expired for over a year.

Unlicensed providers of dermatology and beauty services were found in the clinic. Additionally, the inspectors found a large number of expired and unregistered medicines, food supplements, and cosmetics from unknown sources, as well.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has resolved the controversy over who must shoulder the cost of the ticket when recruiting domestic workers by setting the recruitment fee at KD890, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting sources. Sources clarified that with this recruitment fee, the domestic labor recruitment office shall shoulder the ticket cost for domestic labor recruitment requests submitted after April 19, 2022.

Sources confirmed the recommendation to include the ticket cost in the recruitment fee was presented after the ministry’s meeting with the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). Sources said this is in response to complaints about the confusion on who should bear the ticket cost – whether the employer or the recruitment office. Sources added the ministry has stressed the need for recruitment offices to abide by Ministerial Resolution number 33 of 2021, which specifies the recruitment fees.

Sources warned the ministry will not hesitate in taking legal action against those proven to have violated the resolution or those who claim that domestic workers are not available. Sources said this could lead to immediate withdrawal of the commercial license in order to protect the rights of all concerned parties.