No delay in implementing plan to merge MGRP, manpower authority

Budget expected to rise from KD 10.4 bln to KD 13.3 bln

KUWAIT CITY, June 5: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, and State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind AlSabeeh affirmed that there is no delay in implementing the plan to merge the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) and the Public Authority for Manpower into a single governmental agency, reports Aljarida daily.

The minister said the Council of Ministers has been officially addressed to issue a decision for movement of affiliation.

She revealed that necessary positions will be filled after the organizational structure is presented to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), stressing that the ministry is committed to the merger process, considering the positive accomplishments involved.

Meanwhile, Minister Al-Sabeeh Sunday led a high-level Kuwaiti delegation to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 106th International Labor Conference.

She revealed that there were no observations registered against Kuwait for discussion.

The current budget income is expected to increase from KD 10.4 billion as recorded in March 2017 to KD 13.3 billion at a rate of 21.8 percent, reports Al-Shahed daily quoting sources.

The same sources added KD 1.3 billion of income will be allocated to the Fund of Future Generations. They pointed out that oil income in the present budget went up by KD 11.7 billion with surplus of KD 3.8 billion for fiscal year 2016/2017 based on $45 per barrel sale.

They added income tax and fees generated KD 494.8 million, indicating additional revenue of KD 19 million compared to last year. They noted the declining oil price in the global market is the reason for budget deficit recorded over the past three years. They also said the current oil price of $ 45 per barrel and increase in production of natural gas will contribute to reduce deficit in the public budget.

Some school administrators, in a sheer act of abuse, deprive teachers of leave in Ramadan under the pretext of allowing them to work for only 3 hours, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The daily quoting sources stressed the right of teachers to obtain leave in Ramadan is granted by law and activated upon instructions of the Ministry of Education but the administrators of some schools handle the issue according to their personal points of view.

Hind Al-Sabeeh

Kuwaiti Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khaled Al-Jarallah met with UK Ambassador to Kuwait Matthew Lodge on Monday to discuss bilateral ties.

The two sides also discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting of the joint Kuwaiti-British steering group in London next July.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Foreign Minister for the Deputy Foreign Minister’s Office Affairs Ambassador Ayham Al-Omar. (KUNA) Minister of Commerce and Industry and State Minister for Youth Affairs Khalid Al-Roudhan with some officials of

the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as well as its affiliated agencies.