KUWAIT CITY, Sept 18: Opposition MP Khaled Al-Tahous accused civil institutions including the Civil Service Commission on Sunday of neglecting the Kuwaiti working class with unequal procedures, forcing trade union organization to launch strikes and protests. He said that the CSC is ignoring the working class concerns pertaining to salary increments in different organizations; therefore the workers believe they are being unfairly treated.
Al-Tahous added that opposition MPs have continuously called on the government to formulate salary increment policies, however it has not dealt with the matter accordingly. Therefore, the government must tolerate strikes and protests due to its negligence and lack of awareness of the inequality within civil institutions, he said.
Al-Tahous continued that it is not effective that ministers are urging the army and the police to be available on the streets to halt protest instead of attempting to find effective mechanisms that can run these civil institutions. He said that such statements will accelerate the harmful situation and noted that it can be resolved if a state minister is willing to hold talks with the trade union organizations. However, he added, if ministers remain silent then trade unions will continue their call for protests.
Al-Tahous finally urged His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to interfere and put a halt to the unequal treatment of civil institutions towards the working class.
Furthermore, MP Saleh Al-Mullah stated that his National Action Bloc will call for the prosecution of former deputy prime minister, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, in the ministerial court if it is discovered that he has encroached on public funds and state property. He added that the NAB is following up on the proponents of the grilling request against the former minister and will forward them to the State Audit Bureau for an independent investigation.

Firefighters seek ouster of director general, hike in allowance
An estimated 300 firefighters held a demonstration at the premises of General Fire Service Directorate to voice their demands, which included the ouster of director general of the directorate Major General Jasim Al-Mansouri.

The workers pressed for cancellation of the fingerprint attendance system, allowance increment, and establishment of an insurance scheme. They also demanded that engineers at the sector be treated on par with other engineers at the government sector, in terms of salary scale. Meanwhile, the demonstrators asked Major General Al-Mansouri to come out and negotiate with them in the streets but he refused, suggesting their demands will be better discussed inside a meeting room at the headquarters.

According to Al-Mansouri, modifying their allowances is the responsibility of a four-member committee that includes officials from the ministries of Defense and Interior, as well as National Guard and Fire Service Directorate. He pointed out that the committee seeks to treat firefighters just like their colleagues in the services. However, such modifications fall within the jurisdiction of Civil Service Commission. He hopes the proposal will be approved soon.

He went on to complain about offensive slogans against the directorate and promised the workers their demands will be fulfilled. With the fingerprint attendance system, he gave his word to reconsider it. He reiterated that discussions will be held with the National Union of Kuwait Workers in that regard.

On another note, MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri expressed his support for the firefighters who held a protest in front of their administrative building on Sunday calling for reforms and equal salary increments. Al-Muwaizri urged the government to listen to the demands of the firefighters as they constitute an important segment of society and work to protect the lives and property of the population.