KD 71m debt detected after inventory
Jaber Hospital project records highest fine for delay
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 28: Undersecretary at the Ministry of Public Works Engr Awatef Al-Ghunaim disclosed the total debt detected after inventory of the ministry’s projects was KD 71 million, and details of the debt will be released before Eid Al-Adha holiday to reveal information about each debt and the date of collection from the contractor, reports Al-Qabas daily.
Engr Al-Ghunaim said total debts in the Construction Projects Sector for delayed fines and other established debts were KD 46.5 million. He stated Jaber Hospital recorded the highest fine of about KD 18 million, while Boubyan Port project also attracted fine for delay, in addition to another KD 5.9 million debt emanating through entitlements to be paid for consultancy works that should be deducted from the contractor’s payment.
She pointed out that delayed fines to which the Road Engineering Sector was entitled totaled KD 13.5 million, while the Jamal Abdul-Nasser Road upgrade project attracted maximum fine of KD 8 million.
After several measures taken by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) represented by the Civil Service Council, the number of expatriates appointed to work in the public sector in the year 2017 has been reduced to 790, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
About 123 expatriates were appointed to work in the government agencies directly without the need for approval from CSC or its council based on special regulations related to those agencies.
Among them, 18 expatriates were employed in Fatwa and Legislation Department, four in the Legal Department of Kuwait Municipality, 91 in Judicial Facilities of Ministry of Justice, five in the parliament, two in Kuwait Ports Authority and three in the Environment Public Authority.
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health have a large share of expatriate appointments. Ministry of Education employed 331 expatriates while Ministry of Health appointed 259 dermatologists, dentists, nurses and other medical staff.
About 77 expatriates were appointed in government agencies through CSC. Among them, 37 are holders of specialized university qualifications and have experience exceeding 10 years.
Also, 33 expatriate muezzins were appointed in Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and seven expatriates in other positions which do not require specialized qualifications such as driver, office boy, messenger, and undertaker.