KUWAIT CITY, Jan 25: The parliamentary Women’s Affairs Committee approved Monday a clause in the civil and social rights draft bill for women obligating government to provide suitable housing units to Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis, divorced and widows who have children, Committee Chairperson MP Dr Maasouma Mubarak told reporters after the meeting.
Al-Mubarak disclosed the panel fully supports a government proposal presented by Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs and State Minister for Development and Housing Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Fahd Al-Sabah on the establishment of a fund to cover the housing needs of these women. She said the committee will meet again on Jan 30 to discuss clauses related to social security for women, as well as their civil and social rights. She also unveiled the panel’s plan to invite representatives from a number of concerned authorities to the meeting.
Other issues tackled in the meeting include preparations for an open day on March 8, which coincides with the International Women’s Day, to discuss women’s rights in detail under the patronage of Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, Al-Mubarak added.
Commenting on a proposal to grant a monthly salary to stay-at-home Kuwaiti mothers, Al-Mubarak clarified the committee has certain reservations on the bill which, she pointed out, contradicts the principles on strengthening women and activating their role in the development process. She argued children are not considered a hindrance to their mothers’ role as nation-builders.
Al-Mubarak also presented a proposal on granting permanent residency to children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis or stateless person (Bedouns) and foreign or Bedoun men married to Kuwaiti women for more than five years, provided the marriage is still in effect.
In another parliamentary development, the Financial Affairs Committee on Monday looked into the proposed amendments to the core of the development plan and postponed analysis of the general policies until Thursday.
Finalized
Committee Chairman MP Dr Yousef Al-Zalzalah confirmed the panel finalized deliberations on the amendments presented by MPs. He explained the committee agreed to meet again on Thursday to discuss the proposed amendments to the general policies. He affirmed the final committee report will be referred to the Parliament next week for voting. He hopes for the passage of the plan in its second reading.
Asked about the amendments on the Islamic identity stipulated in the bill, Al-Zalzalah clarified the panel has not rejected this provision as the amendments pertain only to the general policies and core of the plan. He said the government also promised to submit budgets in accordance with the plan at the right time to the parliamentary Budgets Committee.
Meanwhile, the Petition and Complaints Committee discussed six complaints Monday with representatives from the Farm Authority.
Committee Chairman MP Hussein Mezyed revealed four of the complaints are related to agricultural allegations in Wafra and another concerning the confusion between Kuwait Municipality and Farm Authority.
He said the panel reached an agreement that the authority and Municipality should clarify the confusion.
Mezyed added items in the agenda of the committee for its next meeting include decision numbers 73 and 74 as the authority has vowed to present a detailed explanation in this regard.
On the other hand, the Development and Reform Bloc discussed Monday the government’s stand on several issues like the experts draft bill, organization of the courts, and the special session slated for deliberations on the handicapped draft bill.
MP Dr Faisal Al-Muslim announced the bloc will present a proposal on granting the Parliament right to hold sessions without the government. He affirmed several MPs have expressed their willingness to support this recommendation.
Criticizing the government for its contradictory statements concerning a number of vital issues, Al-Muslim pointed out the executive has been persistent in highlighting the costs involved in the implementation of the experts draft bill and organization of the courts, but it did not stress the same with regards to the handicapped draft bill.