KUWAIT: The National Assembly approved a draft law to grant allowances and bonuses to Kuwaiti Education Ministry's members in its first reading yesterday. Forty-three members voted in favor of the draft law out of the 53 attending members while 10 objected. The law in its first article stipulates that the teachers will be rewarded the functional level allowance, supervision and guidance allowance of KD150 to be granted to all teachers, as well as a rare specialty allowance worth KD200. The second article of the law grants teachers a reward for the higher scientific qualification worth KD200 for Masters holders, KD400 for PhDs holders, while Article III has amended the value of the reward of excellent work to be no more than KD1,500 dinars per year.

The fourth article stipulates that members of the teaching staff who pass the training courses agreed upon with the Civil Service Commission will be rewarded KD1,000 to those who pass these courses during the academic year.The fifth article states that Kuwaiti teaching staff will be granted an entitlement bonus equivalent to a year-and-a-half salary for males and females who have been in service for 30 years and 25 years respectively and Article VI stipulates that the functional level reward and other supervision bonuses take the rule of salary either paid in full or reduced accordingly.

The National Assembly in its ordinary session yesterday presented a draft law to give an extra KD50 for those whose salaries exceeded KD1,000. The vote resulted in 46 in favor of it and 11 against it. Up 57 parliament members were present for the voting. The government had previously returned the draft law to the assembly stating that such a law does not achieve social equality and wastes public fund. Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ali Al-Rashed said on behalf of the government that it should be giv
en two weeks to review the draft law since it has a new outlook on it. A number of parliament members believe the approval of this draft law will achieve social justice and support the group of people who have salaries exceeding KD 1,000 and were not included in the KD50 raise that was approved by the assembly earlier.

Several ministers promised to steer their respective departments on track and accepted congratulations from well-wishers on being selected as a part of the new Cabinet. New Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi, who was assigned with the Ministry of Justice portfolio in addition to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor he held in the previous Cabinet, insisted that an anti-human trafficking law is his top priority. Meanwhile, Dr Helal Al-Sayer promised a "complete overhaul" of the
medical services provided in the country through projects launched since his time as the Health Minister during the previous cabinet.

The new Minister of Education and Higher Education was active in addressing matters that concern members of the educational scene in the country, as he took part in a seminar held by the Kuwait Teachers' Society to demand the enforcement of teachers' allowances. During the event, Minister Ahmad Al-Mulaifi acknowledged "an error" in governmental directorates, and explained that "the fact that MPs aren't satisfied proves that there is an error". He indicated that the new government will adopt a "serious approach" towards reform, vowing to work for elevating the level of education in Kuwait.

And while the new Minister of Electricity and Water Salem Al-Othaina was quick to instruct senior ministry officials to make sure that no projects are delayed or suspended, the returning Minister of Public Works and Minister of Municipality Affairs Dr Fadhel Safar reiterated the importance of facilitating the process of executing main assignments which includes road projects. In the meantime, new Minister of Communications and Information Sami Al-Nisf indicated that a new strategy will come into place for the Ministry of Communications to "be put on the right track". - Kuwait Times