‘Cut need to renew work permit for Kuwaitis to get MGRP funds’
This news has been read 22661 times!
No legislation required, implement program: minister
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 3: MP Abdulwahab Al-Babtain has submitted a proposal to cancel the requirement for Kuwaiti private sector employees to renew their work permit annually in order to receive financial support from the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP). He clarified that none of the laws governing MGRP or employment in the private sector stipulates requiring any private sector Kuwaiti employee to renew his work permit.
If this requirement is just a precautionary measure to prevent squandering of public funds, there are more than enough precautionary measures in the existing laws and executive regulations, the MP argued. He pointed out this requirement has been causing difficulties for the employees and their families, as disbursement of financial assistance stops immediately once the renewal of work permit is delayed.
He added the cancellation of the above-mentioned requirement is necessary, considering that one of MGRP’s objectives is to encourage Kuwaitis to work in the private sector.
In another development, Foreign Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel Al-Jubair mentioned in last week’s dialogue with the Council on Foreign Relations that Qataris are funding dissidents in GCC countries including Kuwait to create issues and instigate instability, prompting MP Saleh Ashour to submit queries in this regard to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled.
The MP wants to know if the ministry has requested clarifications regarding the statement from its Saudi counterpart. If yes, he requested for copies of the evidence and information obtained, and if not, he wants to know why such a step has not been taken; considering the Saudi foreign affairs minister’s statement bears a heavy weight on the well-being of the country.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh said the National Program for Economic and Financial Sustainability does not require any legislation and the only thing that has to be done is to implement it.
The minister made the statement during her meeting with the parliamentary Financial and Economic Affairs Committee this week. She promised to provide the committee with the executive plan of the program by next week after coordinating with other concerned authorities. She clarified that the program does not include any form of fees or taxation.
The team, which accompanied the minister in the meeting, revealed that the program consists of 13 nonlegislative initiatives. They added the government has finalized its new bill on the guidelines for preparation of the general State budget, which will be submitted to the National Assembly in the upcoming legislative term in order to put it on top of the list of priorities.
By Ahmed Al-Naqeeb Arab Times Staff
This news has been read 22661 times!
