KUWAIT CITY, Sept 29: The World Bank lauded on Wednesday Kuwait’s efforts to accelerate the achievement of gender equality overall, through providing equal economic opportunities for men and women alike. In a press release, the World Bank praised the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s decision to prohibit employment discrimination in the private sector, as well as prohibiting all forms of “sexual harassment in the workplace.” These decisions, it noted, confirm to the international community that Kuwait is always on the path to meet its requirements in preparing women’s entry into the labor market in the private sector, in accordance with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the Kuwait National Development Plan.

Despite recent improvements, women worldwide continue to be subjected to laws and regulations that limit their economic potential, it added. The World Bank pointed out that Vision 2035 aims to build a knowledge- based economy in Kuwait, and to enable the private sector to be the main engine of growth, requirement equal opportunity for men and women to be effective contributors to this vision. Furthermore, the World Bank urged Kuwait to continue the path of reform towards increasing Kuwaiti female labor force participation in the private sector and removing additional barriers to the ability of women to join the private sector. (KUNA)