KUWAIT CITY, Nov 5: The proposed salary increments for Kuwaiti employees in the public and private sectors were approved Wednesday in a meeting between HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah and Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, reliable sources told the Arab Times.

Sources confirmed other high-ranking government officials present at the meeting included Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Ali Al-Rashed and Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali. Sources said the ministers were instructed to ask the concerned committees to finalize all studies and reports on the approved pay scales by the end of this month.

Sources revealed an agreement has also been reached to approve all pending pay raise proposals in December to improve the living conditions of citizens. Sources affirmed the increments will be considerable, fair and satisfactory to everyone. They believe the approval of the proposed increments will greatly contribute to the economic stability of Kuwaiti families.

Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) approved Thursday the appointment of 2,500 citizens to various posts in ministries and other government agencies. Sources said the names of those nominated for new jobs and hold diplomas or university degrees will be announced in mid-November. Sources added the nominees will be appointed according to their specializations and qualifications.
In the meantime, the government will not be forced to approve the pay raise demands of workers, who have been holding a series of protest actions in the last weeks, as it is keen on dealing with the issue according to the law, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali.

Al-Shamali confirmed the government will discuss all the pay raise proposals soon. He called on the employees and labor unions to be patient and present their demands through legal channels, instead of holding strikes. He urged them to report back to work properly without jeopardizing their jobs and suspending their demands. 

The minister revealed a committee, consisting of representatives from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Economic Consultative Committee, is coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, to look into the demands of the workers. He disclosed the government institutions have been instructed to control the protest actions to protect the welfare of the nation. He added the Cabinet has asked the ministries and other government agencies to take the necessary legal action against those who went on strike during official work hours. He said the government is keen on studying the issue carefully before approving the proposed salary increments in order not to deplete the nation’s coffers.

Also:
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) will start paying cash plus other allowances to interested staff in exchange of their one-month vacation after Eid Al-Adha holiday, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

The daily quoted a reliable source as saying the management of KAC agreed that its staff could take cash instead of one month holiday with other monetary entitlements. Also, the management agreed on rearranging the organizational structure, as the workers union demanded.

The source stressed that senior officials have urged the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to expedite action on the remaining demands of the union, while it fixes a date for a joint meeting with airways officials. He pointed out that the demand became inevitable, based on the one-month ultimatum given by the union to resume strike if their demands are not met, and stated the deadline as Nov 24.