KUWAIT CITY, Dec 21: Dr. Sayed Issa, the acting Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs and Cooperative Affairs and Director of the General Department of Planning and Administrative Development at the Ministry of Social Affairs, announced that the Ministry of Education has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Social Affairs to assign the management of school canteens to cooperative societies, starting from the 2026/2027 academic year. He explained that the proposal is currently under review in coordination with the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies (UCCS) and individual cooperative societies. The union will collect feedback from the cooperative societies to finalize all aspects of the proposal. During a meeting held recently at the UCCS headquarters with the heads of cooperative societies, Dr. Issa stated that the ministry places great importance on the upkeep of the cooperative societies’ public facilities, common areas, service buildings, corridors, and courtyards, their beautification, and proper management.

He explained that any negligence or shortcomings in the aesthetic and service aspects are completely unacceptable. Senior officials are monitoring the situation, and accountability will be enforced without leniency in cases of neglect in these areas. Under the directives of the Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, the priority is safeguarding shareholders’ funds, providing services, and ensuring the availability of diverse goods. The fundamental objective behind the cooperative sector is to offer distinguished services at competitive prices and a wide variety of products, in addition to maintaining the central markets and branches. Dr. Issa emphasized the need for cooperative boards of directors to review all activities and actions undertaken, ensuring full compliance with regulations and laws.

He urged them to promptly rectify any shortcomings without waiting for the formation of investigative committees, indicating that accountability may extend to past years. Dr. Issa stressed that the current board is also responsible for the actions of previous boards if no corrective measures were taken. He highlighted the importance of preserving public funds and fulfilling the true mission of cooperative work in serving the residents of their communities. Regarding the engineering and legal aspects, Dr. Issa stressed the importance of finalizing the engineering requirements for the central markets and completing all necessary licensing procedures.

This would enable the resolution of related issues, particularly the legal status of workers in operating shops, to prevent any violations. He warned that any board of directors failing to finalize licensing or transfer the workforce would bear full financial and administrative responsibility, adding that several central markets still have outstanding issues that must be resolved within the final deadline. Dr. Issa called for expediting the issuance of fire safety permits, completing necessary modernization procedures, and obtaining civil identification numbers for operating cooperative branches. He emphasized the urgent need to install surveillance cameras in central markets and food supply branches in compliance with the provisions of Law No. 61, as well as the need for cooperative societies to fully adhere to ministerial decrees regulating cooperative work. Regarding the participation of cooperative societies in National Day celebrations, Dr. Issa explained that one of the Ministry of Social Affairs conditions is for the cooperative society to obtain prior approval before submitting its application.

The deadline for submitting applications to participate in national celebrations is February 1. He commended the initiatives of cooperative societies that implement development projects in coordination with the ministry through the Green Urban Development Committee, highlighting that this cooperation strengthens the role of these cooperative societies in serving the community. Dr. Issa also urged cooperative societies to coordinate on matters related to wedding halls, which fall under the ministry’s responsibility, emphasizing that these halls are intended to serve the residents of the areas.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff