‘Expats can buy at all co-ops’

PAM suspends files of 16,848 companies

KUWAIT CITY, March 25 : News reports are abuzz in the social media that some cooperative societies are preventing expatriates from buying their needs during Ramadan, justifying this by saying expatriates in large numbers flock these outlets to buy everything they can lay their hands to benefit from reduced prices during the holy month, reports Al-Qabas daily.

In reaction to what has been published, the head of the Consumer Protection Association, Mishaal Al-Manea, said preventing expatriates from entering any cooperative society and limiting shopping to citizens only at the coops is against the law.

Al-Manea explained there is absolutely no justification for the coops’ refusal to sell goods to consumers, whether citizens or residents, indicating that the Consumer Protection Law punishes these decisions.

He indicated that cooperative societies are establishments that have a commercial license from the Ministry of Commerce and Market Law. applies to them similar to other establishments.

He added, “We informed the Ministry of Commerce and the concerned authorities of the need to intervene to prevent such ill-conceived and offensive decisions.”

In the context, an official source at the National Guard Cooperative Society denied what is being circulated on social media about preventing sales to non-Kuwaiti consumers, stressing that the National Guard Cooperative Society welcomes all segments of Kuwaiti society.

PAM suspends files: The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has announced the suspension of 16,848 files of companies with a total of 22,863 licenses and 61,688 expatriate workers under Article 18 Visa (private sector work visa) as they do have no valid addresses, reports Al-Jarida daily.

In a press statement, PAM disclosed this is in compliance with the directive of First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal AlKhaled as part of ongoing efforts to rectify the demographic structure of the country.

It added that the erring employers were given one month to amend their legal status; otherwise, they will be referred to the concerned authorities for investigation and other measures.

Ultra 98 prices hiked: The Subsidies Evaluation Committee at the Ministry of Finance decided to raise the price of Ultra 98 gasoline from 210 fils to 225 fils per liter effective April 1, reports Al-Rai daily.

A correspondence between Kuwait National Petroleum Company and Oula Fuel Company also stated that the committee specified the prices of other gasoline types as follows: 85 fils per liter for Excellent 91 and 105 fils per liter for Special 95 from April 1 to June 30, 2023.