Fight erupts at KFTU over leadership disagreement – Call to balance power equation

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23: Pandemonium broke loose Tuesday in the headquarters of Kuwait Federation of Trade Unions (KFTU) between members of the Ministry of Public Works Labor Union and several other syndicates, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Some of those involved sustained minor injuries before security officers intervened and others were taken to a police station for further investigation.

According to an eye witness, the incident occurred when the federation organized a seminar on “the new labor union formation law” to curb the spate of divisions over control of the unions. Several lawmakers and labor leaders were present. He revealed the Public Authority for Manpower handed over certificate of recognition as leader of the federation to a union leader at the Ministry of Public Works.

It was when the newly appointed leader went to the headquarters with the intention of taking over the administration from the previous leadership that the argument ensued among the former and new labor leaders.

This prompted other members of the federation to join the fray and the situation escalated to fisticuffs. He said the fight looked like disagreement over leadership position on the surface, but the real issue is about the loss of a faction completely to another one, which was regarded as imbalance of the administrative board. He declared the division requires fi rm stance from the Public Authority for Manpower and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh. He pointed out the equation must be balanced to form synergy among the contending factions, because the division has created leadership vacuum in the federation for over six months. He noted it was a coincidence that the fi ght erupted when a seminar was organized to fi nd a lasting solution to division in the federation.

The National Manpower Development Department at the Public Authority for Manpower received about 100 applications from citizens who want to rectify their status after the suspension of the national employment support due to the non-issuance of work permits as per the decision of the Cabinet, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources. Sources confirmed the authority is keen on applying the ministerial decision granting these citizens a grace period of three months to rectify their status. Sources stressed the law is clear and there will be no retroactive payment for beneficiaries whose employment support was suspended, but disbursement will resume from the date of work permit issuance.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has yet to issue a decision regarding the New Year holiday which falls on a Friday – whether the government sector employees will be given another day instead of Friday or not, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting sources. Sources disclosed the CSC has asked the Cabinet if it is possible to declare Thursday or Sunday as holiday for government sector employees in place of Friday and it is still waiting for the Cabinet’s response.

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