Panel nod to increment
‘Hike in line with strategic alternative to pay scale’
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 19: The parliamentary Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee has approved the proposal to grant 25 percent salary increment to government sector employees not covered by the special salary scale.
Speaking to reporters after the panel meeting on Sunday, Committee Rapporteur MP Yaqoub Al-Sanei confirmed approval of the proposed salary increment; as well as the draft bills on increasing salary of military personnel and pension of retirees. He explained the proposed 25 percent salary increment is in line with the strategic alternative to the pay scale. He affirmed the committee studied all aspects of the proposal based on the Constitution and it has been forwarded to the Human Resource Development Committee which was tasked to study all recommendations related to the strategic alternative.
He added other proposals approved in the meeting included insertion of Article Four (repeated) to law number 30/1965 on the establishment of Credit and Savings Bank (CSB), which states that the bank shall provide insurance for the borrowers based on the loan amount. He said 50 percent of the insurance fee will be shouldered by the State and 50 per cent by the borrower.
He also confirmed the panel’s approval of the proposal to establish the Supreme Commission for Accreditation and Ensuring Quality of Education, protection of national products and creation of a financial portfolio for medical treatment abroad.
However, the committee reject- ed the following suggestions: establishment of housing funds for women and the military, relocation of military facilities and buildings away from residential areas, construction of an international airport away from residential areas, and others related to the salaries of Kuwaiti employees.
Furthermore, Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee MP Faisal Al-Shaya disclosed the panel discussed the development plan with Minister of State for Planning Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh. He quoted the minister as saying that the new plan necessitates amendment of some laws like the Allocation Law. He added this is different from the previous plans.
Commenting on the same issue, committee member MP Ahmad Lari has stressed the need for the government to lay down the development plan based on documented informa- tion in order to achieve goals of the State. He also underscored the need to take into consideration the latest developments in the international community, such as the rise and fall of oil prices, in drafting the development plan.
On another issue, MP Faisal Al-Shaye submitted questions to Minister of Health Ali Al-Obaid on overseas treatment. He asked about the number of Kuwaiti patients sent to other countries to undergo treatment from 1992 till date, annual budget approved by the Ministry of Health for this purpose from 1992 till date, total overseas treatment expenditures from 1992 till date, types of diseases of those sent abroad for treatment, number of patients per type of disease, and steps taken to develop the health sector in order to reduce the number of patients sent abroad for treatment.
Moreover, MP Faisal
Al- Kandari has forwarded queries to Minister of Oil and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Dr Ali Al-Omair on the reduction of Kuwait’s oil production after stopping the AlKhafji Joint Operation (Joint Oil production Field between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia). He wants to know the reasons behind the suspension of operation, if the Kuwaiti side was informed before issuance of the decision, its stand on the issue, percentage of decline in oil production, plan to compensate for the reduction, if there is any other oil field deemed harmful to the environment, ways to address the problem, number of Kuwaiti employees in the operation, steps taken to prevent termination of their services, other measures to help these employees, and impact of the decision on Kuwait’s share in the global oil market throughout the year.