KUWAIT CITY : The Ministry of Health (MoH) has taken all the necessary measures to prepare for a protest action that workers and drivers are allegedly planning to stage within the next few days, Minister Ali Al-Barrak told Al-Rai. In spite of a relatively calm atmosphere in various government departments, many officials confirmed their respective departments' readiness to face any labor strike. Manager of the Workers' Unions Department at the Ministry of Health Yousef Al-Dhahi disclosed the department received information about plans of the drivers at the ministry to stage a protest action. He added the ministry will recruit substitute drivers in case of strike. Earlier, the ministry issued a directive instructing companies to require the drivers to park in front of the ministry building to avoid delays in transporting the nurses to different hospitals. Indicating some companies failed to comply with the directive, Al-Dhahi warned the ministry will review the contracts of companies that will participate in the strike, adding the ministry rented 600 cars from these companies.
On the other hand, Adam Al-Othman, manager of one of the companies contracted by the ministry, affirmed the drivers will go on strike to demand higher salaries. He assured the company pays the salaries of the drivers on time but there is a 'third party' encouraging the drivers to stage a protest. Al-Othman revealed the drivers receive salaries ranging from KD 50 to KD 250, depending on the type of vehicles they are driving and in accordance with the amount stipulated in their employment contracts. While the Parliament continues to attack the government for its failure to control the situation, MP Musallam Al-Barrak said the cleaning companies should be held responsible for the worsening situation of expatriate laborers in the country. Al-Barrak urged the government to reveal the names of cleaning companies accused of exploiting their workers. He said the government should not deal with abusive companies which violate the basic human rights of workers, confirming there are around 15 companies maltreating their employees.
© Arab Times 2008
