KUWAIT CITY - The government is pushing for the cancellation of the sponsorship system to curb visa trading and improve the human rights record of Kuwait, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi. Stressing the need to punish those who tarnished the image of the country at the expense of expatriate workers, Al-Afasi asserted Kuwait is keen on protecting human rights and it will not allow anyone to trample upon the rights of others. In another development, Al-Afasi confirmed the committee tasked to investigate alleged corruption at the Higher Council for the Handicapped (HCH) will soon submit its report and the ministry will punish all those involved in the scandal. Al-Afasi also unveiled the ministry's plan to cancel the salary ceiling for the disabled and grant privileges to handicapped Bedouns, similar to those given to their Kuwaiti counterparts.
Meanwhile, a government committee formed to tackle the issue of unemployment has decided to prepare an insurance law draft bill to solve current and future job problems, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting reliable sources. The sources said the draft bill will be submitted to the Cabinet next week. The project deals with paying salaries to citizens who have been laid off, and its capital will be shared by the government, citizens working in the private sector, donors and NGOs. The sources added the contribution of private sector employers will provide job security to the employees. They also said the contribution of employees will be optional. The sources pointed this method has been adopted by many developed countries.
The sources also said the quoted number of citizens laid off due to the current financial crisis is incorrect, as the number includes students, retired citizens and degree holders who are still very young. They added there is no proper communication between Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Social Security to determine the number of students who are working in the private sector while receiving their allowance. In the meantime, MP Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi has questioned the Minister of Health Dr Hilal Musaed Al-Sayer about the cost of sending patients for overseas medical treatment to Ukraine.
Al-Awadhi raised this question after an article was published in one of the dailies which claimed medical treatment costs in Ukraine are very high compared to other European countries. She demanded an explanation for the claim, asking for the names of the citizens treated in Ukraine if the allegation was true.
© Arab Times 2009
