Earlier this month, the parliamentary Interior and Defense Affairs Committee approved a bill amending the Expats Residency Law and referred it to the National Assembly for inclusion in its session on Dec 19, according to parliamentary sources. According to sources, the bill consists of 37 articles and seven chapters; it focuses on articles defining the entry and deportation of expats, notifying authorities, visa trading, and penalties, as well as allowing Kuwaiti women married to foreigners to sponsor their spouse and children; provided they do not have citizenship.

Government sources explained that the bill specifies the fees related to residency, its renewal, and all types of entry visas through a ministerial decision. According to sources, the bill prohibits trading in residence permits by exploiting, recruiting, or facilitating the recruitment of foreigners in exchange for a sum of money or a benefit, and imposes criminal penalties and complementary penalties of imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years as well as fines of between KD5,000 and KD10,000.

Specifically, it stipulates that the Public Prosecution has exclusive jurisdiction over visa trading exemptions. Under the bill, a Kuwaiti woman who is married to a foreigner can obtain a residence permit for her husband and children, provided that she has not acquired Kuwaiti citizenship as a result of her marriage to a Kuwaiti.

A residence permit may be obtained by the expat widow or divorcee who has children with the Kuwaiti. The Ministry of Interior may grant expats a temporary residence permit for a period of three months, after which they must leave the country unless they obtain a one-year renewal from them. Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaiti men may be granted a license for regular residence for a period not exceeding five years, and children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis may be granted a residence permit for a period not exceeding ten years.

Investing in Kuwait is allowed for expats under the decision of the Council of Ministers, which specifies the scope, categories, and amounts of investment. An expat employee in a government entity may not be granted a residence permit under another entity except with the approval of the entity in which he is currently working. Non-governmental workers cannot obtain a residence permit without the approval of the competent authority.

When a Minister of Interior deems that deportation is necessary to protect the public interest, public security, or public morals, he may deport an expat even if he has a residence permit;

- If the expat does not have a legitimate source of income. When a foreigner is deported, his family members, who he is supporting, may be deported as well, and the foreigner whose deportation decision has been issued may be detained for up to 30 days, which can be extended if necessary to carry out the deportation decision. If the expat leaves Kuwait, the Interior Minister may exempt him from all fines resulting from his violation of the provisions of this law. There are a number of amendments related to domestic workers in the bill, including:

- The domestic worker, as well as those of the same status, may be granted a regular residence permit according to the provisions of Article 13 of this law.

- If a worker's residency is revoked after he leaves work, he must leave Kuwait within the period specified by the competent authority in the Ministry of Interior unless he has been authorized to obtain a new residency.

- Domestic workers or those of the same rank may not transfer their residency without the employer's approval.

- Unless he obtains permission from the Ministry of Interior before the expiration of this period, domestic workers should not remain outside Kuwait for a period greater than 4 months. As part of the draft law, the following are excluded: heads of state and their families, heads and official employees of diplomatic missions, and their families as long as reciprocity is maintained; holders of diplomatic, special, and political passports as long as reciprocity is maintained; and persons excluded with special permission under considerations of courtesies determined by the Minister of Interior.

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has opened a window for expatriates, whose professions match their university qualifications and whose age does not exceed 60 years, to transfer their residency from the government sector to the private sector, reports Al-Rai daily. The authority explained that this decision is in line with the steps aimed at addressing the lopsided demographic structure issue and benefit from expatriates with vast experience who might be needed by employers in the private sector, and by the regulations and policies on the demographic structure of the country.

The Board of Directors of PAM issued resolution number 239 of 2023 during its third meeting for fiscal 2023/2024, stating “the expatriates employed in government agencies cannot transfer to the private sector, except those under the following three categories:
1. Husband and children of a Kuwaiti woman married to a non-Kuwaiti, and foreign women married to Kuwaitis,
2. Palestinian document holders,
3. Those who hold a university certificate and have not reached the age of 60, provided that the profession is compatible with the qualification and nature of the job occupied in the government sector.”

The decision also grants PAM the power to “establish regulations on prohibiting such transfer for some professions and specializations in the interest of the public.”

The Environmental Police Department at the Ministry of Interior has advised campers to adhere to the regulations to avoid legal problems, reports Al-Rai daily. According to the department, the fine for hunting lizards or birds of prey is KD250, while the fine for smoking in schools, universities, and institutes ranges from KD50 to KD100. This was announced in a panel discussion organized by Kuwait Scouts Association entitled, “Environmental Violations and the Camping Season”. The association hosted Major Badriya Sa’ad and First Lieutenant Zaid Abdullah from the Environmental Police Department.

They stressed the necessity of obtaining a camping license from the official website of Kuwait Municipality and paying the corresponding fee of KD50 while the security deposit is KD100. One of the most important conditions for camping is the prohibition of damaging or deteriorating the natural environment, such as uprooting plants and harming wild animals in the form of hunting lizards or birds of prey, as this leads to a fine of KD250 or imprisonment.

The two officers urged the people to stay away from the border strip, natural reserves, and oil installations, as the license will be canceled in the event of a modification to the site chosen for camping through the Municipality’s website. They also stressed the need to adhere to the prevention and safety regulations of the Kuwait Firefighting Force and the Ministry of Interior.

They said people should not dig the soil, not place cement pours, and not burn waste and dump it anywhere. They also touched on maritime violations and warned against fishing in Kuwait Bay, unless there is a license from the concerned authority and an entry fee of KD5, as entry without a license costs the entrant a fine of KD1,250, along with the seizure of the cruiser.

They stressed that the fine for smoking in enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces, such as schools, complexes, universities, and institutes, ranges between KD50 to KD100, wishing everyone to adhere to the instructions in the interest of the public. At the end of the discussion session, Vice President of the Scouts Association Hussein Al-Maqseed honored the lecturer

The Bengaluru airport has emerged as the country's most profitable airport, with a profit of Rs 528.3 crore reported during the year 2022-2023, Union Minister VK Singh has announced in Rajya Sabha. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) airports were only profitable in three out of 14 during 2022-2023, according to the minister.

A profit of Rs 267.1 crore was earned by Cochin airport in 2022-2023, while Rs 32.9 crore was earned by Hyderabad airport during the same period.

With a loss of Rs 408.51 crore, Ahmedabad airport ranked first in 2022-2023, followed by Delhi (Rs 284.8 crore), Lucknow (Rs 160.6 crore), Mopa (Rs 148.3 crore), Kannur (Rs 131.9 crore), Jaipur (Rs 128.5 crore), Mangaluru (Rs 125.9 crore), Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 110.1 crore), Guwahati (Rs 60.9 crore), Durgapur (9.1 crore) and Mumbai (Rs 1.04 crore).

Among the 125 airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Kolkata emerged as the most profitable, with Rs 482.3 crore, followed by Chennai (Rs 169.5 crore), Calicut (Rs 95.3 crore), Tiruchirapalli (Rs 31.5 crore), Coimbatore (Rs 12.6 crore), Bhubaneswar (Rs 11.8 crore), Chandigarh (Rs 9.5 crore), Bagdogra (Rs 2.7 crore), Asansol (Rs 2 crore), Leh (Rs 1.8 crore), Kanpur Chakeri (Rs 1.4 crore) and Darbhanga (Rs 1.1 crore).

Approximately 25 airports under the Airport Authority of India will be leased between 2022 and 2025, the Minister informed. This include Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Trichy, Indore, Raipur, Calicut, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Patna, Madurai, Surat, Ranchi, Jodhpur, Chennai, Vijayawada, Vadodara, Bhopal, Tirupati, Hubli, Imphal, Agartala, Udaipur, Dehradun and Rajahmundry.

The Ministry of Interior is currently evaluating the impact of halting the transfer of residency for expats in the government sector (Article 17) to the private sector (Article 18). This decision affects a significant number of expatriates employed across various Kuwait Ministries.

A proposed vision has been submitted to the Ministry, outlining controls and procedures associated with this decision. The vision explores the potential exclusion of certain categories from the prohibition on transferring from Article 17 to Article 18.

As per sources, the suggested categories for exemption from the transfer ban include the expat wife, husband, and children of Kuwaiti citizens, as well as foreign residents holding Palestinian documents.

The vision also considers exceptions for expat who previously held residency under Article 18, allowing their conversion to Article 17, provided they are below 55 years of age, and their employment in the private sector aligns with their prior government sector work.

Furthermore, discussions are ongoing regarding a proposed exception to the transfer ban for expats who initially held residency under Article 22 (Dependent / Family Visa) and later converted to Article 17 (government sector). These considerations are subject to further research and may be implemented following approval from senior leadership within the ministry.

Indian Embassy in Kuwait issued advisory for all Indian delivery drivers in Kuwait.

New comers to Kuwait as 'Restaurant Drivers/Delivery Riders/ Courier Riders' will find advice in the advisory, as will those who are already living here as "Restaurant Drivers/Delivery Riders/ Courier Riders".

In response to the increasing number of Indian nationals working as "Restaurant Drivers" in Kuwait, an advisory was issued. After arrival in Kuwait, they are deployed as Delivery Drivers / Riders for Food platforms, embassy said.

If the Employer's name includes terms such as "Consumer Orders," "Consumer Goods," "Delivery of Orders," etc., then they are usually Food Delivery aggregators. Most of them use two-wheelers or bikes for deliveries, even during peak summer season.

Newcomers to Kuwait are also referred to as 'Restaurant Drivers/Delivery Riders'.

(i) Delivery Drivers receive Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Visas, which bind them to work for the same employer for 3 years. Work permits cannot be released or transferred during the three-year period, i.e. the worker cannot change employers during this time period. Upon completion of 3 years, the workers can transfer to another SME employer or return home.

(ii) Salary is generally commission-based with delivery targets and also based on the distance of deliveries. Employees of these companies are not paid a fixed monthly income, as may be falsely promised by some agents.

(iii) Workers should review the Contract before accepting the work, and make sure the employer provides workers with basic workers' rights, such as minimum working hours, overtime pay, holiday rights, worker's health and safety, and compensation for total or partial disabilities.

(iv) During some months of the year, Kuwaiti workers may experience harsh weather conditions (extreme heat, dust storms, etc.).

(v) Workers should ensure that they are provided with Medical/accident insurance, for their own safety and well-being.

(vi)All Delivery Riders need to insist on Embassy attested Employment Contracts (as per Kuwait's Labour Law with a minimum wage of KD 120 for Delivery Drivers) in order to protect their interests.

(vii) The benefit of Employment Contract attestation through Embassy includes Insurance coverage (covering disability/accident/death compensation) in Kuwait, paid by Kuwaiti Employer.

(viii) Workers are also eligible to receive an additional insurance benefit from Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) when obtaining an Emigration Clearance from the PoE office.

Additionally, the Embassy urges those delivery riders/drivers working for such delivery companies already in Kuwait to note the following in case of an emergency:

(a) In case of any labour grievances/disputes, they should first register a formal complaint with Public Authority of Manpower (PAM).

(b) They may also register a complaint with Labour Helpdesk of the Indian Embassy physically or through Whats app Helpline No. 6550 1769.

(c) All labour grievancs/disputes of civil matters can be taken up and solved through PAM (Shoun) Office and Labour Courts.

(d) However, any theft case, breach of trust, etc. reported by an employer to the Kuwaiti Police will result in criminal charges with serious consequences, including a travel ban until the case is resolved by the Labour Court.

The Criminal Court sentenced to ten-year imprisonment an Egyptian nurse who forged her documents to be appointed by the Ministry of Health, and imposed a fine of KD 21,000 for undeserved salaries she received in five years. It also imposed a fine of KD 5,000 on another person for forging the nurse’s appointment.

The Public Prosecution had charged the two suspects with forging official documents for employment at the Ministry of Health, using unofficial papers, and seizing sums of money they were not entitled to as a result of this crime. However, the two suspects denied the accusations attributed to them by the prosecution.

To make it easier for citizens and residents, the General Traffic Department (GTD) will soon offer vehicle ownership transfer along with vehicle registration renewal through the government application "Sahel". Al-Seyassah daily was told by informed sources that the General Traffic Department pays great attention to the importance of converting all its services electronically. In coordination with the concerned authorities, the “Sahel” application will be enhanced to include the services of transferring ownership of vehicles and renewing insurance in the future.

Currently, citizens must make an appointment through the Sahel application to meet Civil Service Commission (CSC) officials, while everyone is allowed into the reception hall, where staff and officials strive to provide the best services to the public, reports Al-Anba daily, quoting a reliable source. One of the sources stressed that the person making an inquiry or completing a transaction must be the person concerned or someone authorized to act on his behalf. According to him, this is to ensure the privacy and security of individuals' information. Flexible working hours were implemented for CSC employees on Sunday, he said.

According to sources, the CSC began nominating people with disabilities for employment in their chosen government agencies as soon as the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) had developed its systems and the automated link to the CSC had been reestablished for verifying job applicant data. CSC announced, in a related context, that job applicants will be able to register for all specializations and qualifications until Dec 15 through its website: portal.csc.gov, clarifying that government agencies submit a list of their actual manpower needs to the commission, which then nominates candidates.

On Thursday, the Interior and Defense Affairs Committee discussed the government's bill amending the Foreigners Residency Law with representatives of the Ministry of Interior.

The Public Funds Protection Committee discussed the reports of the State Audit Bureau (SAB) on Kuwait Oil Company's investments between 2018 and 2023. The representatives of the Ministry of Oil, KOC and SAB attended the meeting.

In addition, the committee investigated the issues raised in the grilling motion that MP Dawoud Maarefifil filed against former Minister of Public Works Amani Bugamaz. SAB representatives, members of the Board of Directors, and the secretary of the Public Authority for Roads and Transportation (PART) attended the meeting.

Business Environment Improvement and Small Enterprises Committee met with representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait Banks Union and National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises. The Education, Culture and Guidance Affairs Committee discussed the bills on the establishment of Nawaf Al-Ahmad University for Applied Sciences and Sabah Al-Ahmad University, as well as transferring the supervision of the Basic Education College from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) to Abdullah Al Salem University.

One way of addressing the demographic imbalance issue is to restructure departments in the Basic Education College to match those at Abdullah Al-Salem University and to offer courses to meet the needs of students and the labor market. Adel Al-Manea, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research, senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, the chairman of PAAET, the chairman of Abdullah Al-Salem University's founding board, and representatives from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) attended the meeting. In its meeting, the New and Remote Residential Areas Development Committee discussed its task of monitoring infrastructure development in new and remote residential areas.

Meanwhile, MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri asked Minister of Health Ahmed Al-Awadhi why his ministry has not taken the necessary measures to deal with financial and administrative violations recorded by the State Audit Bureau (SAB). There were several complaints from citizens and employees of the ministry about financial and administrative violations, he said; calling on Al-Awadhi to take action to fulfill his constitutional oath, especially with regard to Article 17, which states that the public fund must be protected and preserved by all citizens. According to MP Mubarak Al-Tasha, some sports clubs allow male and female athletes, including members of the Kuwait Swimming National Team, to train together in one swimming pool.

If the answer is yes, he wants to know the rationale behind such a practice, which is contrary to national customs, traditions, and Islamic rules. He asked if there were regulations prohibiting both genders from using the same swimming pool. MP Fahd Al-Masoud forwarded questions to the health minister, saying he raised the same questions for the second time due to unsatisfactory answers. If the ministry advertised vacant administrative and financial positions in overseas health offices, he asked what period the advertisement was published, how qualified candidates were selected, how Kuwait's permanent delegation to the United Nations in Geneva was appointed, and how many patients were sent abroad for treatment since Al- Awadhi took office, as well as the countries where they were treated. All ministers received the same questions from MP Mehalhal Al-Mudhaf. In addition to the number of fact-finding committees currently in operation, he also wishes to know the reasons behind the formation of such committees, the date of the fact-finding committees' formation, the number of members and their terms, the budget allocated for each committee, and any reasons why reports have been delayed for more than one year.

In a groundbreaking move, the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has announced a significant policy change aimed at supporting children diagnosed with cancer. The exemption extends to all fees and charges associated with health services provided by the Ministry of Health across hospitals and specialized medical centers.

This inclusive initiative encompasses both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti children. Non-Kuwaiti children must possess a valid residency and have received their cancer diagnosis before turning 16. The fee exemption will persist until the child reaches 18 years of age, ensuring continued support throughout their critical years of treatment and recovery.

The comprehensive exemption covers a wide range of health services provided by the Ministry, including fees associated with private rooms in hospitals and specialized medical centers. This measure is a significant step towards alleviating the financial burden on families facing the challenges of pediatric cancer.

The health condition of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is stable and he is taking necessary medication, said the Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, he called in a statement to the public to verify news in regards to His Highness the Amir’s health, taking such information from official sources.

The minister prayed to Allah the Almighty to bestow His Highness the Amir with good health and rapid recovery

Meteorologist Issa Ramadan expects the temperature to drop within the next two days, considering the relatively cold pressure on Wednesday, reports Al-Qabas daily. Ramadan told the daily: “Winter is gradually approaching and it will be a cold December for Kuwait.

Light to moderate northwesterly winds will continue for several days, including the weekend. The maximum temperature will range from 19 to 23 degrees Celsius and the minimum will range from eight to 16 degrees Celsius in the wilderness and suburbs.” He added: “Scattered clouds will appear at times, but without significant rain, over the weekend until the end of next week. The weather will be semi-stable and relatively cold, moderate during the day and cold at night, especially in the desert areas.”

Media officials should maintain accuracy when sharing news from sources other than reliable ones on their platforms, according to Lafi Al-Subaie, the Undersecretary of Press, Publishing, and Publications at the Ministry of Information. In a press statement on Wednesday, Al-Subaie firmly stated that media outlets are strictly prohibited from publishing, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, sending, or transferring any content that violates the media laws of the State of Kuwait. A strong warning was issued, emphasizing that spreading rumors would result in decisive legal consequences.

Furthermore, Al-Subaie stressed the Ministry of Information's commitment to monitoring and correcting misinformation. When media outlets spread rumors, the Public Prosecution is notified, ensuring that appropriate measures are taken against those responsible. The official urged everyone to exercise caution and obtain news exclusively from official sources to avoid violating the law.

An Indian minister said Tuesday that all 41 workers had been rescued from a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel after a 17-day rescue operation.

A temporary medical camp will be set up inside the tunnel of 13 meters (42.6 feet) width to check the health of the rescued workers.

The 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued, said Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari in a statement. This rescue operation was one of the most significant in recent years, thanks to a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies."

Sabah Ahmad's wife Musarrat Jahan, who phoned AFP by phone, said: "We are extremely happy, no words can describe our feelings." “Not only my husband got a new life, we also got a new life. We will never forget it.”

After drilling through the debris earlier on Tuesday, Indian officials announced that rescuers were extracting workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand.

As an example, a drilling machine broke after hitting a metal object, causing a significant amount of delay.

It required almost twice as much dirt and debris to dig a horizontal shaft as it did to dig a vertical shaft on Sunday.

Kuwait’s Parliament in its regular session approved the request from the Business Environment Improvement Committee to conduct a study on the impact of the Ministry of Interior’s decision to suspend the issuance of family visas for expatriates employed in the private sector.

Family visas for expatriates in Kuwait have been suspended since August 2022. The Ministry of Interior suspended the issuance of family residence visas in order to restructure Kuwait’s demographic framework.

However, there have been some recent updates. In December 2022, the Ministry of Interior resumed issuing family residence visas for children below the age of five under certain circumstances. Effective immediately from September 14, 2023, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has resumed issuing family residence visas for the wife and children (males under the age of 15 and females under the age of 18) of expats in Kuwait working as medical staff in the Ministry of Health. It is unclear at this time when the suspension will be lifted for other categories of applicants

The Criminal Court has imposed a travel ban on a Ministry of Interior official, secretaries of former MPs, and a doctor involved in money laundering and bribery — a case revealed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled who decided to refer it to the Public Prosecution., reports Al- Qabas daily. During the first trial of the defendants, the court decided to postpone the trial until Jan 27, 2024, for a thorough review of the case files.

According to a reliable source, the prosecution charged three secretaries of former MPs and expatriates with bribery after discovering their participation in obtaining a suspended visa in exchange for KD2,000.

The Arab Monetary Fund has released its 19th edition of the Arab Economic Outlook Report for 2023, shedding light on the economic landscape across Arab nations. Notably, Kuwait is projected to experience the second-highest inflation in the Gulf in 2023 and the lowest economic growth in 2024.

The Gulf’s economic growth is anticipated to slow down significantly in 2023, settling at 2.3 percent compared to the robust 7.6 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report indicates that Kuwait’s economic growth will witness a considerable deceleration, stabilizing at 2.3 percent in 2023, down from the impressive 7.6 percent in 2022. However, a positive trajectory is predicted for 2024, with an expected growth rate of around 3.2 percent. This improvement is attributed to factors such as an anticipated increase in oil production compared to 2023, a reduction in monetary policy tightening, activation of major investment projects, and a surge in non-energy exports.

Examining the inflation dynamics, the report reveals that changes in food and beverage prices contributed significantly, with Kuwait recording 32 percent inflation in 2022, surpassing Saudi Arabia’s 28 percent. Housing and utility costs played a role in inflation increases in various countries, with Kuwait experiencing a 17 percent rise. Transportation services also contributed to inflation, with Kuwait’s rate expected to reach 3.2 percent this year, the second-highest in the Gulf after Qatar (3.3 percent).

In terms of global oil supplies, the report forecasts an increase in liquid fuel production by 1.2 million barrels per day in 2023 and 1.7 million barrels per day in 2024. Despite voluntary production cuts by the OPEC Plus bloc, oil production from outside OPEC, led by countries like the United States, Brazil, and Canada, is expected to drive this surge. Russia’s oil production is predicted to decrease by 0.3 million barrels per day in 2023, stabilizing in 2024. Meanwhile, OPEC’s crude oil production is projected to decrease by 0.8 million barrels per day in 2023 and increase by about 0.4 million barrels per day in 2024.

At a time when the Public Authority for Roads and Transportation (PART) is studying the completion of bids for the tender of study, design, and preparation of documents for the railway project in its first phase, a government report stated that the tender No. 1 AH I/I for the project of study work, detailed design and preparation of documents was announced in issue No. 1618 of the official gazette dated January 15 at the request of PART. The report explained that the tender being offered is concerned with studying and designing the first phase of the Gulf Track railway project and the facilities affiliated with the project with a length of 111 km.

Kuwait is the northern station of the railway for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the Kuwait section of the network represents about five percent of the total with a length of 111 km and connects directly to Saudi Arabia. The first phase was subject to a tender in January for a period of one year. It has three phases, with the first phase involving preparatory work and initial design for a period of four months for the consultant, and one month for the entity’s review, thus a total of five months. The second phase involves financial modeling and feasibility study, with a working period of 1.5 months for the consultant, half a month for review, and thus two months in total.

The third phase, it includes the detailed design and tender documents, with a working period of six months for the consultant and a review period of two months, with a total of eight months. The second and third phases will be implemented concurrently. The proposed project is a “first phase” study and design only, while construction and implementation will take place in three subsequent phases. The first stage includes appointing an international consultant to provide advisory services related to preliminary design work for railway tracks, developing the necessary solutions to address conflicts, fulfilling the requirements of relevant authorities, and preparing the technical documents for the project. The second phase is concerned with the work of qualifying, offering, and awarding the project work to investors in accordance with the established procedures, in addition to presenting and awarding the work of supervising the implementation to an international consultant. The third phase is concerned with implementing all the work related to the project.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Budgets and Final Accounts Committee MP Osama Al-Zaid disclosed that the representatives of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently discussed the comments of the CSC on the recruitment procedures in ministries and their subsidiaries. Al-Zaid said the CSC recorded a total of 1,222 violations; 1,133 of which have yet to be addressed, asserting this is unacceptable. He added that 393 violations were recorded against public institutions and their subsidiaries, 104 of which have yet to be addressed. He was quick to clarify that some public institutions are committed to the recruitment regulations. He revealed that the number of recorded violations committed by ministries include 644 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; 331 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 75 by the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy; and 35 by the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR). He confirmed that the committee asked the abovementioned institutions to address the violations, especially those resulting in the illegal payment of cash to certain officials. He made it clear that any institution, that does not correct its violations will be subjected to budget-related decisions. He said a big percentage of the violations include the illegal disbursement of allowances and privileges to the undeserving.

The lawmaker went on to say that the committee found a large number of vacant leadership positions, which require the issuance of special decrees to fill up these posts. He warned that the designation of acting officials, who hold leadership positions for a long time, has negative consequences such as the delayed issuance of urgent decisions. “This happens because the acting official is afraid that the decision he makes might be wrong and lead to his dismissal. Some acting officials tend to cooperate with corrupt parties to obtain certain advantages and privileges,” he revealed.

According to Al-Zaid, the committee is keen on determining the powers granted to the CSC; as it seems such powers are unclear, up to the extent that the CSC issues exceptional decisions concerning recruitment. He cited as an example the attitude of CSC regarding the recruitment procedures, indicating that the Ministry of Education has asked the CSC to appoint a number of officials like the chairpersons of educational districts. He said the CSC replied in 12 pages; explaining that all the nominees did not meet the requirements, so it did not approve the nomination. He added that the CSC later issued a one-page decision to exempt all the nominees from the conditions and approved all of the nominations. He said this example shows that some of the CSC’s decisions are taken whimsically rather than being committed to the regulations. He was quick to stress the fact that the abovementioned decisions were issued in 2017 and 2018, which means they were issued during the term of the previous CSC officials. He emphasized that correcting the path requires the enhancement of transparency, calling for publishing the minutes of the CSC meetings to be available to ordinary citizens. He said the people’s monitoring is essential to deter any senior official from committing violations.

On the other hand, MP Majed Al- Mutairi has forwarded queries to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for National Assembly and Cabinet Affairs Essa Al- Kandari; considering the Amiri Diwan oversees the establishment of major projects including the new Justice Palace. Al-Mutairi requested information about the achievement rate of the Justice Palace project, copies of the relevant contracts showing the total value, the name of the contractor, and the completion date for each phase of the project. He wants to know the variation orders and their value if any, if any observations have been recorded by the relevant monitoring institutions, and if they have been addressed. He demanded copies of all correspondences between the Amiri Diwan and monitoring institutions like SAB, Legal Advice and Legislation Department, Ministry of Finance, and Central Agency for Public Tenders to assign the Amiri Diwan to oversee the project; comments recorded by SAB if any; if they were corrected or not; and if the project includes an extension of construction phases and the estimated cost of such extension.

In a recent report by Insider Monkey, Kuwait has secured the 21st position on the list of the world’s strongest growing economies. The nation exhibited a growth rate of 1%, placing it just after Japan, which claimed the 20th spot with a growth rate of 1.17%, slightly surpassing Kuwait.

Insider Monkey highlighted that Kuwait is currently on a trajectory of economic recovery, although it faces significant risks and challenges associated with long-term growth. This observation aligns with concerns raised by the International Monetary Fund, particularly in light of an ongoing political stalemate between legislative and executive authorities, deemed a crucial issue by the magazine.

Several other Gulf countries also made notable strides on the list, with the United Arab Emirates securing the eighth position and a robust GDP growth rate of 3.50%. Qatar followed closely in 13th place, boasting an average growth of 2.60%, while Bahrain secured the 17th spot with a growth rate of 2.02%.

Topping the list were Guyana with an impressive growth rate of 38.40%, Panama at 6%, and the United States at 4.9%, claiming the first, second, and third positions, respectively.

Insider Monkey outlined its methodology for determining the top-performing economies, explaining that the ranking involved isolating the top 50 economies based on per capita GDP. These major economies were then assessed based on their latest GDP growth rates, utilizing Q2 2023 data where available and adjusting for fiscal year data gaps. The report emphasized the significance of considering per capita GDP, as it helps distinguish the fastest-growing economies in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, indicating promising futures but not necessarily classifying them among the current top economic countries. Additionally, the report noted that even economies with low growth rates made the list due to recent contractions in many of the world’s wealthiest economies.