KUWAIT CITY, Feb 3: The Financial and Economic Affairs Committee in the Parliament discussed Sunday the proposed amendment to the Kuwait Airways Corporation privatization bill.

Communications Minister Salem Al-Utheina and representatives of the corporation attended the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Committee Rapporteur Safaa Al-Hashim disclosed the discussion centered on the amendments approved recently by the Parliament. She said the committee will meet again on Feb 18 to finalize deliberations on the proposal. She added the proposed amendments include clauses on the financial rights of the employees who prefer to stay in the corporation after privatization and those who have opted for retirement.

According to Al-Hashim, one of the important clauses in the proposal is the distribution of five percent of the shares, free of charge, to the Kuwaiti employees. She said the government representatives expressed objection to this clause as they prefer the distribution of shares at book value through a mechanism which allows the employees to buy shares.

Al-Hashim confirmed the committee also met a group of employees. “We listened to their points of view and then we explained their side to the minister and his team; particularly the complaints related to retirement. The minister promised to look into the complaints and he asked the corporation to present its vision on the suggestion of the government to lay down a mechanism for employees to buy shares,” she explained.

Meanwhile, committee member MP Ahmad Lari revealed the panel has reached an agreement with the government to increase the number of employees who will benefit from the shares.

On the other hand, the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee has approved the judiciary independence bill, which will be referred to the Parliament for discussion and approval this week.

Committee Rapporteur MP Yaqoub Al-Sanei said they merged the proposals presented by the government and the lawmakers on judicial autonomy.

Al-Sanei disclosed the committee also tackled other draft bills, such as the establishment of Kuwait Media Institution, National Authority for Human Rights, employment insurance for Kuwaitis and amendment of some articles of Housing Care Law number1993/47.

Asked about the approved bills, Al-Sanei confirmed the panel has endorsed the proposed amendments to certain articles of the Social Security Law, payment of social and children allowances to female Kuwaiti employees, and naturalization of the adult children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis.

In another development, the Education Committee discussed the Audio-Visual Law amendment bill in the presence of the heads of different private satellite TV channels, including Al-Rai, Al-Adala and Funoon.

Committee Chairman MP Khalid Al-Shulaimi said they deliberated on issues related to the financial guarantee as some of the channel owners have stressed the need to increase the guarantee from KD100,000 to KD500,000; as well as the capital for television channels from KD500,000 to KD2 million.

He affirmed the committee will study the proposals before presenting them to the Parliament for approval.

Furthermore, the Public Utilities Committee discussed the proposed establishment of the Public Authority for Communications. It has asked the government to finalize the proposal to be tabled for discussion.

In the meantime, MP Ahmed Al-Mulaifi has forwarded questions to Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah on the widespread use of weapons among the youths; hence, the prevalence of violence in public areas, causing injuries, death and damage to properties.
Al-Mulaifi asked the minister about the measures taken to prevent fights among youths in public places. He wants to know if there is a plan to arrest those who carry weapons in public areas or put in their cars to be used in case of fights or for the purpose of robbing or terrifying other people. He inquired if there is a clear and long-term plan to address this phenomenon.

Moreover, the National Assembly will hold a special session on Thursday to look into the allegations made by former lawmaker Shuaib Al-Muwaizri on the embezzlement of public funds, as well as a number of vital issues and proposed amendments to some laws, says Parliament Speaker Ali Al-Rashed.

The session, requested by a number of MPs, will discuss 14 reports prepared by the parliamentary committees on amendments to laws pertaining to the press and publications, the Penal Code, the trial of ministers and the organization of the judicial system, and procedures in preparing the general budget and amendments to the Private Labor Law, among other issues. The session will also seek to determine the number of Bedouns (stateless residents) that may be granted citizenship in 2013.

Meanwhile, MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan confirmed that his grilling request against Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah will be submitted in the near future and “will focus on the minister’s performance “.

On another note, Al-Duwaisan said he will request the formation of a committee to investigate the reasons for the hike in citizens’ loan interests. He added the committee will determine whether it is the Central Bank or the local banks that are responsible for the problem.

Moreover, the Interior and Defense Affairs Committee rejected a number of laws proposed by the government in a meeting Sunday. The committee rejected a decree pertaining to the National Elections Commission formed in December last year and a government draft bill that stipulates monetary fines and imprisonment for citizens whose passports were lost or damaged, said Committee Rapporteur MP Abdullah Al-Tammimi. He added the committee further rejected the stipulation of health insurance with the issuance of passports.

Al-Tammimi said the government’s proposal on an amendment to the citizenship law was also rejected as it stipulates that “Kuwaiti nationality is only given to those who have a travel document or a passport from another country”. He stated the proposal has disadvantages and could be “a trap” for those classified as Bedoun residents.

On its part, the Health and Social Affairs Committee met with Minister of Health Mohammad Al-Haifi, during which they discussed the inability of public hospitals to accommodate the growing population and the establishment of new ones.

Committee chairman MP Salah Al-Ateeqi added the meeting further discussed a proposal to unify the bodies responsible for sending patients for treatment abroad into a single commission.

In addition, the Human Rights and Bedoun Affairs Committee has announced that a US delegation concerned with the Kuwaiti prisoners at Guantanamo Bay will visit Kuwait in April or May. Committee Rapporteur MP Taher Al-Failakawi said the delegation will meet the Foreign Ministry and the committee to discuss the circumstances surrounding the issue and the detainees’ release.

Meanwhile, a number of MPs including Nabil Al-Fadhl and Nawaf Al-Fuzai have submitted a proposal to amend the Press and Publications Law to stipulate that complainants submit a KD 500 warranty to the state’s treasury with their complaints. The lawmakers explained that many complainants have submitted unserious complaints and misused the privilege of filing complaints against individuals in the press for personal vendetta. Therefore, the warranty, they added, will regulate the types of complaints filed.

Moreover, MP Askar Al-Enezi submitted a proposal to establish an authority to monitor foodstuffs coming into the country and those provided by restaurants, shops and supermarkets.