KUWAIT CITY, July 18: Kuwait is likely to announce a 5-10 percent hike in petrol prices in August, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Prices of petrol and other related products are being reviewed and a report will be submitted to the Higher Petroleum Council, which will then announce its decision by August-end, said a source. “National Assembly’s disapproval of the idea of privatizing the oil sector does not prevent a hike in prices of petroleum products, particularly benzene,” he said, adding “the hike is long overdue, since the government has been bearing heavy costs by subsiding petroleum products.”
The government had announced a hike in 1998, but rolled back after facing severe criticism.
The source said the decision has nothing to do with UAE which increased fuel prices twice within three months to control inflation and losses incurred by companies distributing petroleum products.
Meanwhile, the government intends to impose harsher penalties on its employees who fail to collect the necessary fees or outstanding bills from the consumers, reports Al-Dar daily quoting sources.
In line with its commitment to combat corruption, sources affirmed the Cabinet will take the necessary administrative and legal procedures, such as dismissal or referral to the Public Prosecution, against any government employee who fails to collect the required fees for public services. 
Sources also confirmed the formation of a ministerial committee, headed by the minister of finance, with representatives from the ministries of Communications, Electricity, Water, Health, Interior and Justice, as members.  Sources clarified the panel will identify the employees in charge of collecting fees from the consumers and submit a report in this regard every six months to ease procedures for determining who among these workers have neglected their duties.