KUWAIT CITY, March 21: The parliamentary Financial and Economic Affairs Committee finalized discussions on the privatization draft bill Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Committee Rapporteur MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari confirmed the panel unanimously approved the bill. He unveiled the panel’s plan to request a special parliamentary session for the final debate and ratification of the bill.
“This is an immensely important bill as it is considered the backbone of the Cabinet’s development plan,” Al-Anjari clarified. He believes the bill will open new social and financial horizons.
Al-Anjari revealed the bill consists of 26 articles and stipulates formation of the Supreme Privatization Council under the chairmanship of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah with three ministers and three experts as members. He added the panel is keen on protecting the rights of Kuwaiti employees, and the passage of this bill is another “historic development” in the country.

Al-Anjari added that the bill would “reconstruct” the state’s overall hierarchy and open “new horizons” in terms of economic and social venues.
The committee, during the discussion of the bill, had put into consideration the protection of rights of Kuwaiti employees “against anything” that would jeopardize their income, he said.
Al-Anjari also pointed out that the bill stipulates granting three additional years in social security, as well as the “necessity” to rehabilitate manpower shifting to the private sector.
Should it be passed by parliament, the bill will open investment channels in the private sector and would encourage investment expansions inside Kuwait, as well it would provide many job opportunities, the MP concluded.

Meanwhile, the committee concerned with monitoring negative phenomenon at the National Assembly requested, during its meeting with leadership at the Interior Ministry recently, the ministry must set surveillance camera in markets and commercial centers to suppress harassment.
Sources said the Ministry of Interior promised lawmakers to take the proposal into consideration to see how it could be implemented, and added the ministry officials requested the committee to authorize them in taking direct action against careless people who harass innocent individuals, seeing that those being pestered will not file any complaint with the Ministry of Interior.
In an unrelated development, MP Adnan Al-Mutawa is concerned with the delay in the inauguration of Jaber Stadium, saying such interruptions in the opening of major projects costs the country huge losses, besides the damage it incurs at the international level, which turns to affect the country’s image, reports Al-Dar daily.
Al-Mutawa appealed to the Public Authority for Youths and Sports (PAYS) to be transparent and schedule the parliamentary committee’s visit to the stadium.
He noted the committee could justify rumor about the stadium not being safe and perfect, unless it confirms appointment for its visit. He reiterated the authority must not obstruct the committee from looking for rationale behind the project’s delay and defects in its design.