‘Kuwait’s Constitution, principles of Islam guarantee family, kids safety’
Citizens get nod to build houses in Mutla’a from March 14
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 20: National Assembly Observer and Chairman of the parliamentary Women, Children and Family Affairs Committee MP Osama Al-Shaheen attended the fourth conference organized by the International Society for Prevention of Children Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) – Bahrain branch with the theme, “For the safe future of Arab orphan children.”
Al-Shaheen delivered a presentation on Law No. 21/2015 and 16/2020 regarding family violence, during which he emphasized that Kuwait’s Constitution and principles of Islam guarantee the protection of the family and children.
Meanwhile, the Housing Affairs Committee on Wednesday met with representatives of the State Ministry for Housing Welfare, Kuwait Municipality and Ministry of Public Works.
After the meeting, Committee Chairman MP Fayez Al-Jomhour delivered good news to citizens who applied for plots in Mutla’a residential area, confirming that the Municipality will start issuing permits for them to construct their houses on March 14, 2021. He congratulated these citizens and praised the cooperation of relevant institutions, especially the state ministries for Municipal and Housing Affairs. On the other hand, MP Soud Bu Sleeb forwarded queries to former Minister of Justice Nawaf Al-Yasseen about the action that the Public Prosecution took against those involved in the money laundering case related to the Malaysian Sovereign Fund, Euro Fighter deal and Kuwait Army Fund.
In another development, MPs Osama Al-Shaheen, Hamad Al-Matar, Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi, Khalid Al-Otaibi and Shuaib Al-Muwaizri submitted a bill to amend law number 23/2015 on the establishment of the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA).
The bill stipulates intensifying efforts of the State to monitor financial issues and expand supervision to cover Kuwaiti offices abroad in order to prevent the recurrence of violations, such as those related to military offices.
The amendment states that FSA will be headed by the board chairman with the rank of minister; while the chairman, deputy chairman and heads of departments will be appointed based on a decree with a term of four years renewable once. The chairman will form and head a supreme committee affiliated to the authority.
Ministries, other public institutions, companies owned by the State, companies where the State owns 50 percent or more of the capital, and all overseas offices -- medical, cultural, military, etc. -- will be subject to the monitoring of FSA.
Investment activities are not subject to FSA monitoring, while the supreme committee can add other institutions under FSA monitoring. If a public institution rejects FSA monitoring, the chairman will inform HH the Prime Minister and the National Assembly Speaker.
The board chairman and his deputy cannot be dismissed unless through a recommendation signed by majority of the supreme committee members and if they commit grave violations as per the reports of a fact-finding committee which will be formed by the finance minister and headed by a judge nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council.
FSA will sign cooperation protocols with the other monitoring institutions like the State Audit Bureau (SAB), Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) and Kuwait Financial Investigations Unit.
MPs Ali Al-Qattan, Hesham Al-Saleh, Muhammad Al-Rajhi, Muhannad Al-Sayer and Fares Al-Otaibi submitted a proposal to amend law number 98/ 2013 on the establishment of the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises.
According to the bill, the beneficiaries of the fund are citizens registered in the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) as employers; in addition to public sector employees who are allowed to go on leave for maximum of three years to handle their businesses. If such employees resume work and give up their businesses, these businesses will be returned to the fund.
The board of directors will issue decisions and specify procedures for compensating the beneficiaries in case of total closure due to unforeseeable circumstances like pandemic, natural disasters and wars.
If a business suffers from financial troubles, it goes back to the custody of the fund and the beneficiary is not held responsible unless embezzlement is uncovered. In this case, the beneficiary shall bear financial and criminal responsibilities.
MP Saad Al-Khanfour proposed increasing national labor subsidy by 100 percent and up to 120 percent for employees holding a master’s or doctorate degree.
The bill cancels the authority of the concerned minister to reduce national labor subsidy and such reduction will be done only through a law ratified by the Assembly.
MP Marzouq Al-Khalifa submitted a proposal to construct a road intersecting Jahra and the Sixth Ring Road.