As per a study conducted by MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun, recent increments have pushed the average monthly salaries of Kuwaitis working in the public sector to KD 1,598 to become one of the highest in the world, reports Al-Rai daily.

The study indicates that Kuwaitis working in Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its affiliates in the oil sector receive average salaries and allowances worth KD 4,800, equivalent to $210,000 a year, which is more than half the annual salary US President Barack Obama receives, which is $400,000.

It also revealed the average monthly earnings of Kuwaitis working in the government sector is thrice the average monthly earnings of their expatriate colleagues, which is $ 591.5. The vast difference in the average salaries of personnel working in different sectors of the country is evident, notwithstanding the similar qualifications they hold, indicating the series of protests and sit-ins is justified by workers who feel they are unjustly treated.

Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) requires the government institutions to activate cabinet’s decision and retire workers serving in various departments for more than 30 years, reports Al-Moustaqbal daily.

The decision follows failure and slackness by some government agencies to implement the CSC decision due to pressures from senior government officials.

According to sources, the decision stipulates that workers serving in the public sector for 30 years and above, including assistant undersecretaries should be retired without exception. They noted many senior officials are making efforts to keep their current positions, while others are sticking to Public Authority for Social Security (PASS) regulations to retire.

In another, unrelated development, the government said the implementation of the assets declaration bill in a retroactive manner contravenes the Constitution, because the application of a legal text prior to the enactment of the bill is not allowed, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources.

Sources clarified the Constitution stipulates the enforcement of a newly-enacted law only after its publication in the official gazette, so the retroactive application of the assets declaration bill is unconstitutional. Sources affirmed the government’s stand on the issue is based on the opinion of legal experts, who studied the issue carefully. Sources asserted the government is serious in its bid to combat corruption and it has submitted several draft bills to address the problem.