‘Strategic alternative’ unlikely to save cash for state: expert

‘Move to create other imbalances’

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 16: The economic expert, Muhammad Ramadan, said the hypothesis that the strategic alternative will save the state money is a lie in itself and incorrect, reports Al-Rai daily.

He noted that “this alternative addresses parts of the salary defect, but it creates other imbalances,” considering that “the strategic alternative did not address the differences between the different sides, equal to one job in all regions, did not take into account the specificity of the medical professions and the oil sector.

Ramadan added, “Some people assume that this alternative will save the state between 10 and 15 billion dinars within ten years, and this is a hypothesis based on the understanding that the increase in the salaries of cadres that took place in the past will be repeated and this will not happen.” He pointed out that “the alternative will be a failure.” In terms of financial savings, it is not a solution and its application will help old problems crop up again.” Sources pointed out this is a violation of the decision of the Awqaf Ministry regarding the number of registrants as follows: 70 percent Kuwaitis and other GCC citizens and 30 percent residents in some areas.

Sources affirmed a new mechanism will be announced soon, clarifying the ministry does not discriminate in the registration of those wishing to memorize and recite the Holy Quran.

Pointed

He pointed out that “the authorities responsible for any adjustments to salaries are the Audit Bureau and the Civil Service Commission, which are the same responsible authorities that agreed to the chaos of the cadres, which means that there is nothing to prevent chaos from occurring within the new system itself.”

A familiar economic source affirmed that the first to propose the strategic alternative proposal was the Civil Service Commission in 2014, and it was very weak, then the government brought the company Oliver Wayman, whose name turned out to be ‘TICG Kuwait’ and prepared a study on this matter, and it was discovered that there are vast differences in salaries amounting to about 400 percent among employees with the same specializations due to the cadres in various government institutions, which number up to 200 cadres in government sectors.