Assembly nod for frontliners

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KUWAIT CITY, May 27: The National Assembly, during its special session on Thursday, approved the proposal of the government to add KD 600 million to the amount allocated for the incentive of workers on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus in the State budget for fiscal 2020/2021 with 61 votes in favor and one against. During the session, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs Khalifa Hamada disclosed that the beneficiaries of the incentive are classified into three categories based on the hazard level as follows: the first category consists of workers at the ministries of Health and Interior, the second consists of workers specified by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the third consists of workers in support institutions. He said 95 percent of the incentive budget is allotted for workers in the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior and National Guard. He added the citizens who died due to Covid-19 while they were in service are considered martyrs and the heirs of their expatriate counterparts will receive 10 times the salary of the deceased.

The Assembly also approved the following recommendations:
■ Assign the State Audit Bureau (SAB) and Financial Controllers Bureau (FCB) to follow up the disbursement of the incentive, and submit reports to the executive and legislative authorities every three months.
■ Include the volunteers in cooperative societies, workers in Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company, and Bedoun nurses to the list of beneficiaries. On the other hand, MP Adnan Abdulsamad thinks this proposal is not necessary as the State budget surplus estimated at KD1 billion is enough to cover the frontliners’ incentive. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 24767 times!