‘Consultations carried out by the PM are at highest level to complete formation of govt’

‘Info’ said to cut bonus of Kuwaiti expat employees

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 7: The consultations carried out by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak to form a new government are at the highest level to complete the formation of the government in a timely manner, reports Al-Anba daily quoting top level sources.

The same sources pointed out these efforts are focused on the formation to enable the government to attend meetings of the National Assembly.

The sources added the names of Cabinet ministers can be announced at any moment, especially if the changes are not radical, but if it is agreed that the changes will be significantly bigger, then this requires a relatively longer period.

Meanwhile, results of a poll conducted by the State Ministry for National Assembly Affairs showed that 73 percent of the respondents (citizens) believe the government failed in marketing the development projects, while 12 percent expressed satisfaction and 15 percent are undecided, reports Al-Rai daily quoting Public Opinion Measurement Division Head Amal Al-Najada.

Al-Najada explained the poll includes several recommendations such as the need to amend plans for marketing development projects to ensure each citizen has the required know-how, identification of development projects which need marketing and social awareness, and implementation of a marketing strategy to reach various categories in the Kuwaiti society.

Top-level sources in the Ministry of Information said there is a tendency to reduce the bonuses to both Kuwaitis and expatriate employees by 50 percent, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The daily quoting sources said this idea is still being studied by the concerned departments within the ministry.

The sources pointed out there is a proposal to reduce the bonuses of those working in the news sector and political programs on Kuwait Radio and Kuwait TV which will be done by amending the regulations so that the Kuwaiti employees receive 600 dinars instead of 1,200, which is the highest ceiling currently approved. The sources added the study also includes slicing the bonuses of expatriate and bedoun employees from 600 to 300 dinars.

The sources pointed out, this step comes as part of the steps taken by the Ministry of Information to rationalize spending and protect public money, as well as to prevent the manipulation of the bonuses.

Assistant Undersecretary for Operation and Maintenance of Water Stations in the Ministry of Electricity and Water Eng Khalifa Al-Fareej revealed the country consumed more than 151 billion imperial gallons of fresh water last year; indicating that after production, water is distributed to 40 locations from North to South, reports Al-Rai daily.

In his interview with the daily, Al-Fareej disclosed the country spends more than KD1.45 million annually for the analysis of water samples.

He affirmed the concerned employees in the ministry received strict instructions to closely monitor water consumption.