News in Brief
EPA team set to participate in summit: Head of Inspection and Control at the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Anuud Al-Qabandi recently stated an environmental control and information system team affiliated to EPA is all set to participate in a summit for the countries using American Environmental Systems Research Institute program (ESRI) in the Middle East and Africa. The event is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from Dec 10-Dec 12, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
In a statement, Al-Qabandi explained her team has been invited to participate in the summit because they are recognized by international environmental organizations for their efforts and achievements in information systems in Kuwait, as regards geography and social environment.
She also said the sector exchanges experience with other similar international projects and that demonstration of their system led to the establishment of an official environmental website in Kuwait”.
She stressed the website facilitates the access to all environmental data and information, which have been distributed according to geography and time, with the latest technological applications and techniques. Panel receives 706 absenteeism complaints: The Settlement Committee on Absenteeism at the Labor Department in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor received 706 absenteeism complaints in November, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting acting Department Director Hadi AlEnezi.
Al-Enezi pointed out if the abovementioned figure is compared to the total number of foreign workers — about 1,200,000 — million in the country, then it means the department has full control over the local labor market and the employee-employer relations. He affirmed the ministry is keen on enforcing the law on everyone to regulate the labor market. He explained the employers have the right to file a case against their workers who do not respect the law, in the same manner that the latter can lodge a complaint against the former if they feel they have been mistreated or if they have been deprived of their rights.
In a related development, Al-Enezi disclosed the department has succeeded in settling 22 labor disputes amicably, while 22 absenteeism complaints had been cancelled. He said the ministry always tries to convince the disputing parties to go for amicable settlement to facilitate the work procedures; in addition to laying down plans and programs to protect the rights of the employees and employers.