Meet to tackle expat labourers issue after Eid
KUWAIT CITY: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Faisal Al-Hajji will meet with the Permanent Committee established by the Council of Ministers after the Eid holidays to discuss about ways to improve the conditions of expatriate laborers in the country. The Committee will also look into the suggestion of the government to identify eight locations for singles residence. The Committee submitted its annual report for 2005 highlighting its accomplishments for the year. Included in the report are a number of suggestions regarding the issue of banning men from working in shops specializing in feminine products. Another issue tackled in the report is the need to stop illegal activities happening in some entertainment places by closing these shops and prohibiting women from working in these places.
One of the highlights for 2005 was the Committee's creation of a team that studied the issue of transferring commercial visit visas to work permits. It was also successful in its move to network the computer systems of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. The Committee also came up with revised regulations for granting commercial licenses. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour has prepared some tough conditions to regulate the process of establishment of new charity societies and their operations, say sources.
A reliable source said "the new conditions, which were prepared by the Charity and Non-Governmental Organisations Department, have been referred to Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Faisal Al-Hajji, who will approve them after the Eid Al-Adha holidays." Indicating the new conditions have three chapters and 45 articles, he said "some articles call for imposing tough punishments on owners of charity societies if they use the funds collected by them for any purpose other the objectives of the concerned society." Charity societies can use the KD 50,000 they deposit in the ministry's account, only after getting a written permission from the minister, he added. The source also said such societies have to ensure they spend the money only for charity purposes inside Kuwait.
"According to Article 16, inspectors of the ministry can make sudden inspection visits to any charity societies, and conduct a spot check on their account statements and operations," he said. "Even a single violation will force the ministry to close down the concerned charity society." The source went on to say "according to the new rules and regulations, applications seeking recognition of new charity societies should be accompanied by the permission given by concerned ministries and departments -- including the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Ministry of Information, Interior Ministry, Kuwait Municipality, General Fire Department, and the General Department of Civil Defense."
By Ahmad Al-Shimmari
© Arab Times 2006
