PAM refers 197 files over labor violations

This news has been read 18264 times!

KUWAIT CITY, July 6: Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Ahmed Al- Mousa revealed that PAM, during the current period, referred about 197 employer files to the General Department of Investigations because about 1,162 violating workers were registered under them.

In a press statement, Al-Mousa indicated about the continuous coordination with the competent authorities in the Ministry of Interior regarding the workers registered under suspended files, affirming that all investigations related to them have been concluded, and these authorities took necessary measures to deal with the workers in accordance with the procedures established in this regard.

He explained that PAM is in full cooperation with the investigation authorities represented by Public Prosecution and the General Department of Investigations. All of them were provided with all the necessary documents.

In the framework of the procedures in place with the authority, letters of guarantee have been issued for the employers who have been found not to have paid labor wages, and their dues have been liquidated, which is the measure that will be taken in relation to any cases of inaction established before the competent staff of PAM.

Al-Mousa affirmed that immediate measures will be taken concerning the violations that are monitored through the cases caught by inspectors of PAM or via the joint committees of the concerned authorities, praising the level of positive cooperation with those authorities.

He stressed the continuation of inspection campaigns on companies and institutions in all parts of Kuwait as well as on workers found to have violated the labor law. Ministry of Health has decided to resume surgical and endoscopic operations in public hospitals.

In Circular No. 79 issued by the Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior Dr Mustafa Reza, the concerned departments were instructed to prepare the operating theaters for all surgical and gastrointestinal units, and to arrange appointments based on priorities, which will be set based on the decision of the heads of surgical units and under the supervision of heads of departments.

The circular was sent to the Ministry of Health’s assistant undersecretaries, directors of health zones, directors of central departments, directors of hospitals and specialized centers.

It highlighted the medical requirements and standards for ensuring “return to work” in terms of minor and major surgeries and gastrointestinal treatments based on scientific recommendations and international standards.

The circular indicated that the preparatory phase should be completed no later than mid-July. Superintendent of the Fire Accident Investigation Unit at Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) Lieutenant Colonel Sayyed Hassan Al-Mousawi says the rate of fire accidents during the curfew period decreased by 50 percent due to the closure of various establishments and factories.

In a press statement, he explained that, during the curfew period from March 12 to June 30, fire incidents at homes particularly in kitchens resulted in 17 cases of injuries and two death cases – an Egyptian and a Pakistani who succumbed to serious burns due to explosion of a cooking gas cylinder.

The total cases of kitchen fire in residential places such as houses, apartments and extensions during the aforementioned period reached 24. The number of kitchen fire cases in non-residential places such as restaurants, shops and others reached 17. Lt Col Al-Mousawi said, “From March 12 to June 25, there have been 1,227 fire incidents; during this period, firefighters carried out 1,619 rescue operations and provided 258 general services”.

He advised the public to purchase ovens with fire sensors that conform to safety specifications. He warned against purchasing substandard gas pipes, regulators and cooking extensions that are sold in some street markets, insisting that it is better to buy them from Kuwait Oil Tankers Company – a government company approved by KFSD and whose products are sold in cooking gas branches. Lt Col Al-Mousawi stressed the need to ascertain the safety of the cooking gas extensions, the gas regulators and the rubber ring with the head of the gas cylinder, especially in case of gas leak, as the gas odor cannot be detected easily due to other odors in the kitchen.

He indicated that more than 90 percent of the kitchen accidents and gas leaks are caused by negligence in examining gas cylinders and extensions, highlighting that these tools have a validity period and should be replaced from time to time. Lt Col Al-Mousawi also stressed the need to clean stoves, hoods and chimneys of the accumulated vegetable oils and animal fats, given that these residues are flammable and could contribute to fire outbreak.

This news has been read 18264 times!