KUWAIT CITY, Oct 22: The Chairperson of Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) Labor Union, Hamad Al-Marri, urged all employees to join a two-hour peaceful demonstration expected to take place at the premises of KAC on Monday Oct 25, from 9:00 am-11:00 am, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Al-Marri made the declaration at a press conference inside the union’s office recently, in the presence of Treasurer Abdullah Al-Hajeri and Assistant Secretary General of the Labor Union Thamer Al-Enezi.
In an address, Al-Marri assured the action will not disrupt flight schedules and operational activities of KAC and other aviation companies. He blamed the government and KAC for any untoward effects that may occur on account of the demonstration.

The workers are protesting Law Number 6/2008 of the plan to convert KAC to a shareholding company and will convey the message to the executive and legislative authorities, particularly on the articles relating to the rights of Kuwaiti employees.

He explained the Constitution allows Kuwaitis to join the public sector but the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is not ready to bear the responsibility of paying their salaries.
He accused the government of shunning responsibility in decisions the Constitution approves, citing the retirement law for KAC employees and its subsidiaries, indicating the law is among many laws that have become mere ink on paper.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammed Al-Kandari refuted reports that the ministry is trying to postpone the establishment of a public authority for workforce, saying “the ministry is keen on complying with all articles and items of the new labor law for private sector,” reports Al-Jarida daily.

The proposed authority will be independent with its own budget, but will be under the direct supervision of the ministry.
Moreover, he mentioned that the ministry stops all transactions related to issuing of work permits and transfers for a maximum of two weeks every year for inventory purposes. He noted that no employers get exemption during this period as any transaction processed during this period is not considered legal.
Although Al-Kandari stressed that the ministry spares no effort in ensuring that workers get their rights, he indicated that there is no intention to grant a KD 20 increment to manual laborers working on government contracts which came into effect before the ministry’s decision stipulating KD 60 salary was issued.
The Permanent Committee for Labor Affairs holds regular meetings to work on solutions which will satisfy all parties and to initiate action against companies which abuse the rights of their employees and tarnish the image of Kuwait, he added.