KUWAIT CITY, Aug 14: MP Hamad Al-Matar has criticized the decision of the concerned authorities to prevent the entry of Indian workers to Kuwait, even if these workers have been vaccinated with globally approved COVID-19 vaccines. Al-Matar stressed the need to facilitate the entry of Indian workers, especially the domestic workers, as Kuwaitis urgently need the services of these workers particularly for the elderly and disabled.

Meanwhile, several MPs denounced the steps that the Experts Directorate at the Ministry of Justice has taken regarding the interview of applicants. These MPs argued the allocation of 50 percent of the total evaluation score for personal interview is a way of manipulating results and favoritism. The results of recent interviews provoked the ire of these MPs as some applicants received messages congratulating them for passing the interview and being recruited as experts only to receive another message two hours later, stating they were not accepted as their score is less than 70 percent. MP Ahmed Mutei Al-Azmi wondered how 50 percent is allocated for personal interview while only 10 percent is allotted for the academic certificate, emphasizing the need to correct this error.

MP Hesham Al-Saleh said the applicants, who obtained 60 percent, must be appointed; while stressing the need to revise the recruitment rules to be more objective and fair. MP Hamad Al-Matar called on Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Nazaha Enhancement Abdullah Al-Rumi to correct the recruitment procedures. Although Al-Rumi authorized the undersecretary to handle the issue, the minister bears political responsibility, he added. He then unveiled his plan to forward queries to Al-Rumi on this issue, urging the latter to conduct a thorough investigation to put things on the right path.

MP Muhammad Al-Mutair said this issue will not pass easily, underscoring the need to enforce the regulations to close the door to favoritism and pave way for the recruitment of qualified applicants. MP Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi intends to submit a proposal on specifying the maximum points allocated for personal interview which, he suggested, should not more than 15 percent. He explained this proposal is aimed at preventing manipulation of results according to the whims of some officials. In another development, MP Hamad Al-Matar asked Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al- Muhammad about the legal basis for allowing the establishment of embassies in residential areas. He enumerated the problems caused by this decision, such as that of the Ethiopian Embassy in Qadsiya where there is no parking area. He said the embassy buildings in residential areas have been causing a lot of problems for citizens such as crowds and disturbance. MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji says will stand against the attempt of the government to cancel the health insurance policy for retirees (Afia). He said he submitted the ‘Afia’ Bill to the previous National Assembly and it was approved later; asserting that economic reform must exclude any measure aimed at depriving citizens of their rights, especially those with limited and low income. He said the government is fully aware of the real reasons behind the budget deficit, such as exaggerated and unnecessary expenditures. He appealed to the government to set an example in dealing with economic crises properly. He added the government must consult the Assembly and relevant parliamentary committees before taking any decision in this regard. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff