KUWAIT CITY, Dec 6: The Kuwait Farmers Union held a meeting recently with the Director of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Rabab Al-Osaimi, and the Director of Unions and NGOs in PAM Mishal Al-Azmi to discuss the decision requiring the salaries of thousands of agricultural workers to be paid monthly through national banks to ensure timely payment, reports Al- Seyassah daily.

The Union opposed the decision, stating that agricultural workers earn low wages and that bank branches are largely absent in remote agricultural areas, including Wafra and Abdali, and many of the employed workers are illiterate. The union highlighted that existing salary disbursement mechanisms in parts of Abdali and Wafra are inadequate to implement the new bank payment requirement effectively. Farmers also criticized the decision to raise fees for bringing in agricultural workers and stamping their residency permits for the first time, from KD 60 to KD 210, which, according to the union’s Secretary, Ahmed Al-Shabak, adds a huge financial burden on Kuwaiti farmers. The meeting was attended by Kuwait Farmers Union Chair Ahmed Al- Adwani, Secretary Ahmed Al-Shabak, and farmers Faleh Mazbad Al-Rashidi, Meshaal Nader Al-Otaibi, and Sultan Faisal Al-Dammak. Al-Shabak highlighted the cooperative spirit during the discussions and expressed optimism that a solution addressing the farmers’ concerns and serving the public interest would soon be reached.