KUWAIT CITY, Dec 11: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs Khaled Al-Ajmi affirmed that the completion of the first phase of the Kuwaitization project for supervisory positions in cooperative societies marks a “comprehensive government success story.” He highlighted that this achievement results from close collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), and the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies (UCCS), affirming that all procedures were carried out with the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and impartiality. Speaking to reporters during the lottery and selection process for appointees to supervisory

positions in cooperative societies on Monday morning at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Al-Ajmi said, “Our goal from the start was to show the public, the government, and citizens that the Kuwaitization process for supervisory positions would be conducted with complete transparency.” He explained that applications were submitted through PAM’s “Our Pride” platform, where each application was carefully reviewed, the job description verified, and the names compiled and forwarded to the Kuwaitization Committee. After coordination with the relevant authorities, all applicants’ names were sent to a private university in order for them to take the written exams, following prior approval from the Fatwa and Legislation Department. The committee decided to allocate 90 points to the written exam and 10 points to the personal interview to ensure fairness and objectivity.

The results were issued immediately after the exams, which reflects the committee’s commitment to transparency and avoiding any delays. All candidates who achieved the top scores successfully passed the first stage, and those tied in scores would be subject to a public lottery held in their presence. All personal interviews were recorded with audio and video to ensure impartiality. Al-Ajmi stressed that this achievement is significant, as it reflects the country’s progressive image and the political leadership’s commitment to supporting citizens and providing opportunities for national talent within cooperative societies. He affirmed that further stages and milestones will be implemented in the coming periods. Al-Ajmi indicated that the number of winners varies depending on the needs of each cooperative society, with some requiring two candidates, others three, and some five. He said the press will receive the complete lists of winning names, whether selected through a lottery or based on direct results.

Al-Ajmi clarified that the committee conducted the lottery on Monday for more than 48 citizens who had tied for positions as general managers, deputy general managers, and department heads. He stated that the presence of the candidates and media highlighted the level of transparency adopted by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Al-Ajmi said the ministry had recently offered supervisory positions in five cooperative societies, and has plans to offer more than 47 new supervisory positions in various cooperative societies in the coming period, under the same approach. He explained that the results of the second phase, which closed with 1,305 eligible candidates, are currently with PAM for auditing and classification. This process is in preparation for submission to the Kuwaitization Committee for final review before coordinating with the relevant university to approve the optional training courses. Written exams will then be conducted, with results announced immediately to the applicants.

Al-Ajmi emphasized that this procedure represents a “qualitative leap” in Kuwaitization mechanisms. He indicated that the Ministry of Social Affairs is working to establish a new system within cooperative societies with the aim of increasing the percentage of Kuwaiti nationals employed in supervisory and operational positions, stressing that the strong interest from Kuwaiti citizens reflects their eagerness to engage in cooperative work. Al-Ajmi confirmed that new job opportunities are announced through the “Our Pride” platform with a minimum one-week notice and are updated quarterly. Regarding the creation of first and second reserve lists, Al-Ajmi explained that some applicants may decline at the last minute due to prior work commitments. Therefore, a clear and fair ranking system is in place to ensure the rights of all applicants. He emphasized the continued audio and video documentation of all stages of exams and interviews to maintain transparency and build trust

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff