KUWAIT CITY, June 18: “The frequent increments and approvals of new salary scales will lead the country into bankruptcy,” says MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim, adding “the first chapter of the State budget dealing with salaries of government employees increased from KD 2.6 billion in 2001 to KD 7.5 billion in 2010,” reports Arrouiah daily.
During a recent meeting of businessmen, some MPs and government bodies were keen on keeping Kuwait a consumer country full of employees, instead of making it a productive one, he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that the Parliament’s Finance and Economic Affairs Committee approved ten projects, but only one project has been carried out and blamed the previous parliaments for the deteriorating situation of the country.
Meanwhile, former finance minister Bader Al-Humaidi said the status of small and medium scale industries in Kuwait is not clear as studies on this subject are always inaccurate and contradictory.
“Recruiting workforce is the most important element in these projects as small-scale projects employ 60 percent employees in some countries and 99 percent in some others,” he noted.
The private sector’s participation in the national output is least in Kuwait compared to rest of the countries in the region, mentioned Al-Humaidi.
Meanwhile, differences cropped up between MPs of the Popular Labor Bloc and National Labor Bloc after the former asked Adel Al-Saraawi’s name to be removed from the interrogators’ list and suggested the inclusion of the name of a lawmaker from Development and Reform Bloc, sources told Al-Shahid daily.
Since Al-Saraawi frequently criticizes tribes and lawmakers from remote areas, MPs of the National Labor Bloc do not want his name to be included to avoid the loss of support of lawmakers belonging to these tribes and “embarrassment before voters who took objection to Al-Saraawi’s statements,” say sources, adding MP Marzouk Al-Ghanim kept up the pressure.
The lawmakers are planning to file an interpellation on the sports issue and are focusing on three topics: the Asian Olympic Council file, the GCC Cup 16 case and attempts to stop international sports activities which damaged the reputation of Kuwait.
Meanwhile, MP Askar Al-Enezi called on Minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer to provide an alternate office to Nutrition Administration employees, saying “the current building is dilapidated, is about to collapse and is full of rats and insects. Moreover, the car parking space is not enough for the employees,” reports Al-Anba daily.
Al-Enezi said many employees left the department due to the building and the poor services in it. He added that the hypothetical lifespan of the building ended years ago and “hence, a new building should be provided for the employees.”
He further mentioned that female employees of the department have been spending from their pockets for awareness lectures held in various governorates. “These employees should be compensated through suitable allowance,” said Al-Enezi.
In the meantime, MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei asked the government to quit if it cannot find solutions to current problems, including electricity, traffic, sports and other deteriorating services in the country, reports Al-Shahid daily.
The lawmaker said he was surprised that more than 10 areas in different governorates faced power cuts despite the sufficient budget granted to the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW). “I found it strange when Minister Bader Al-Shuraiaan urged some lawmakers to support him and it seems he wants a parliamentary group to support him during the special session to be held to discuss the electricity crisis,” noted Al-Tabtabaei.
The Development and Reform Bloc held a meeting Friday to discuss the steps it will take to face the negligence in the electricity sector.
MP Faisal Al-Muslim blames the Ministry of Electricity and Water for the emergent power crisis, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
He added the entire government has failed to face up to the problem, and its just watching the constant power failure at residential areas.
In a statement Tuesday, he stressed the crisis verifies defects in the government’s procedures, and pointed out that the Ministry of Electricity and Water is responsible for the power failure, while the government has failed to carry out its duty. He urged all and sundry to ensure the consumption is economized.