KUWAIT CITY, Aug 14: Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs, announced on Wednesday the issuance of a ministerial decision introducing significant amendments to the cooperative work bylaw. The reforms aim to establish strong governance principles, implement organized employment policies, and enhance the Kuwaitization of supervisory positions within cooperative societies through a unified central mechanism.

Minister Al-Huwailah emphasized that these amendments align with the ministry’s vision to develop the cooperative sector, improve operational and administrative efficiency, and provide superior services to shareholders and consumers. The changes also support Kuwait’s broader strategy to increase the participation of national competencies in leadership roles across various sectors.

The decision introduces a centralized committee responsible for filling key supervisory positions — namely: general manager, deputy general manager, and department head. This committee is headed by the ministry’s undersecretary and includes representatives from the Public Authority for Manpower, the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies, and relevant ministry departments.

Applications for these leadership roles will be processed exclusively via the “Fakhrna” platform, operated by the Public Authority for Manpower. The recruitment process will be overseen by the committee, starting with application reviews, followed by electronic written tests administered in cooperation with an accredited university, requiring candidates to achieve a minimum success rate of 80 percent. The final stage consists of personal interviews to select the most qualified national talents.

The minister clarified that candidates must meet clear conditions to be eligible for supervisory roles, including being Kuwaiti nationals of good conduct, not retired, and possessing the necessary academic qualifications and practical experience relevant to the leadership positions. Successful completion of all evaluation stages is mandatory.

Minister Al-Huwailah highlighted that these amendments mark a crucial step toward enhancing professionalism and transparency in the cooperative sector’s appointment processes. She added that the reforms will ensure the selection of competent national leaders, positively impacting the performance of cooperative societies and improving services for shareholders and consumers. Furthermore, the amendments will strengthen Kuwaitization efforts and create more opportunities for Kuwaiti youth to actively contribute to the country’s development.