‘Labour’ fully abides by Cabinet decision to cut spending: Subaih

KPC sets new regulations for govt missions, overseas courses

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 21: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour as well as all bodies affiliated to it fully abide by the decision of the Cabinet to rationalize expenditures, reports Al-Anba daily quoting Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and State Minister for Development and Planning Affairs Hind Al-Subaih.

The minister disclosed the rationalization procedures include reduction of working teams from six to two, through which the ministry will save around KD 200,000 annually. She also unveiled a plan to reduce the number of cars from 524 to 320.

Indicating the rationalization process started in her office where the petty expenditures were reduced from KD 500 to KD 150 per month, Al-Subaih said this is in addition to limiting over time work to 10 departments and reduction of work shift allowance which will be granted only to deserving employees.

She explained the rationalization process will not affect the basic rights of employees, such as social aids granted to certain beneficiaries in accordance with the law and other allowances.

Meanwhile, the Administrative Sector of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) issued a circular to employees of its subsidiary companies regarding the new set of regulations for governing official missions and overseas training courses, reports Al-Rai daily.

The circular stipulates monetary allowance for concerned employees while away on official missions. The allowance covers expenses for feeding, accommodation, laundry and moving personal belongings.

Employees who are on the promotion ladder system are entitled to KD 180 daily, while senior officials at the management level will collect KD 220 per day. The senior official category includes the board chair- man, chief executive officer, deputy executive directors and board members.

It stipulates that payment of allowance will start from the first day of traveling to the country of assignment until the end of program, indicating the payment should be within two to four days – depending on the geographical distance from Kuwait. It reiterated that the journey should not be more than two days for countries whose distance is less than 6000 kilometers and four days if the distance is up to or more than 6000 kilometers.

It reiterated the sector will pay to cover the full day of departure or return if there is no appropriate flight on the previous or preceding days to the end of mission.