Abdullah

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 25: A member of the National Assembly’s Education Committee MP Khalil Abdullah has disclosed that the e-media law in its new form gives the judiciary the authority to block websites, and not the Ministry of Information as in the old law. He pointed out some fines have been reduced in the new law such as for those who work without license, the penalty on such persons has been reduced from between KD 3,000 and KD 10,000 to KD 500.

He added, the payment of fines will also be through a court ruling. Abdullah explained the committee has recommended that the government make a serious note of observations made by the MPs concerning activation of the laws and their actual implementation. He stressed the committee is ready to retrieve the law and make additional amendments should there be a need for that.

Meanwhile, MP Jamal Al- Omar has submitted a proposal to give jobs to stateless people (bedoun) first by organizing rehabilitation training courses for them in professional disciplines, to replace the expatriates. In the proposal, Al-Omar said rehabilitation of the stateless persons and merging them in the labor market is one of the thorny issues which is being handled by the Central Agency for Illegal Residents.

TrainingTherefore, he has proposed the creation of a center to receive and classify applications of this category of people who are graduates as the beginning. He suggested that a training program be set for them in all areas of work needed by the local market and thus gradually replace foreign workers. He said these courses must include for example mechanics, technicians, clerks, reception staff, factory workers, date entry and other professions which hire expatriates.

He added, these bedoun must be employed alongside expatriates of various nationalities to benefit from their expertise and capabilities as much as possible and able to replace these workers gradually. He added it is also possible to train bedoun in some areas of specializations in agriculture and livestock so as to employ them in farms in Wafra and Abdali to help them contribute to the agricultural and livestock production and ensure food security. He said the primary objective of this proposal is to take advantage of the accumulation of energies of young bedoun who can make a positive contribution to national economy.

In the meantime, the Parliamentary Priorities Committee will meet Sunday morning to discuss laws approved by the Parliament but not yet implemented by the government, says parliamentary source. According to the source, the meeting will be attended by six ministers including Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Hind Al- Sabeeh, Minister of State for Housing Affairs Yasser Abul, Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Issa Al- Kandari, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Ali Al-Omair and the Minister of Education and Higher Education Bader Al-Essa.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff