MPs nod on several bills
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KUWAIT CITY, July 1: In a legislative marathon during its special session Monday, the National Assembly approved several bills deemed necessary to be ratified before the end of the third round of the 15th legislative term.
The Assembly approved the following bills in their second reading:
■ Unaccredited credentials with 43 votes in favor and 11 against,
■ Regulation of accounting and auditing practices with 42 votes in favor and 15 against,
■ Regulation of legal practices with 56 votes in favor and three against,
■ Supervision and regulation of insurance policies with 40 votes in favor and five against. Financial Affairs Committee Chairman MP Salah Khourshed said the bill on supervision and regulation of insurance policies went through several amendments between readings, indicating the most important amendment is increasing the grievance period from seven to 30 days.
Educational Affairs Committee Chairman MP Awda Al-Ruwai’e disclosed that the committee did not add any article to the bill on unaccredited credentials between readings, but several articles were amended to ensure the bill is comprehensive.
The bill stipulates the establishment of a committee at the Ministry of Higher Education to evaluate, review and accredit higher education credentials and certifi- cates obtained in and outside the country.
Article Three of the bill states that all credentials and certificates not accredited by the ministerial committee should not be used to occupy any position or to receive additional income or social status.
It is also prohibited to announce such credentials or use titles in any media outlet or other means of distribution without the committee’s approval. Any or both of these penalties — maximum six months imprisonment and KD 1,000 fine — will be imposed on those proven to have used unaccredited credentials and certificates in the abovementioned scenarios.
A public sector employee who accepts an unaccredited credential for any governmental application will either be imprisoned for one year or fined KD 3,000 maximum or both penalties will be imposed on him.
Furthermore, the Assembly also approved in its first and second readings the proposal to amend Law No. 1/2016 on the establishment of a company with 45 votes in favor and five against.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalid Al-Roudan revealed the amended law prohibits the transformation of non-profit organizations into profitable entities, allows shareholders to assess the company’s standing, prohibits the dissolution of a company due to loss of capital, and allows shareholders and owners to correct the company’s trajectory.
He affirmed these amendments reflect the systematic compromise between his ministry and the Assembly regarding the vision of transforming Kuwait into an international hub for trade, industry and finance.
Additionally, the Assembly approved the proposal to establish a personal affairs court for the Ja’fari Muslim sect in the first and second readings. The bill has been referred to the government for implementation.
Several MPs voiced concern over the bill during deliberations as they believe that implementing it contradicts the call for national unity. They argued the bill entails the creation of a separate court for the Ja’fari Muslim sect; and that considering the magnitude of the bill, it appears a whole new personal affairs court will be created for a country in a country. Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee Khalid Al-Shatti responded, confirming that the committee has taken into consideration all the comments and guidelines of the High Council for the Judiciary, which stressed the importance of this bill on legal practices in the country.
By Ahmed Al-Naqeeb Arab Times Staff
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