THERE is no doubt that the majority of people highly appreciate the efforts of the Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah in eliminating the negative practices that have long plagued social and charity work for over thirty years. The charity sector and cooperative societies have been working per the agendas of their officials who pursue ideological agendas, which eventually led them into unethical practices, including human trafficking. This situation mirrors the case of fictitious companies, which were established based on the influence of certain parliamentarians and had fraudulently obtained labor quotas from the Public Authority for Manpower.
This manipulation resulted in an influx of loose and marginal labor into the country. It is inconceivable for a company to employ ten thousand workers without a single active project to justify their presence. The owners of these fictitious companies issue visas to expatriates for a fee of KD 1,000, sometimes charging even more than the cost of the visa itself. After a year, they pocket an additional KD 400 to KD 500 for renewals, and as they say, “you can do the math.” As a result, the population census file has been inflated, while the entity responsible for addressing this issue, which is the National Assembly, was complicit in this crime.
The Council of Ministers made the right decision by approving the amendment to the Foreigners’ Residence Law. This situation calls for the urgent amendment of the Charity Work Law, especially after witnessing how some MPs defended suspicious organizations and entities that perpetuated these harmful crimes. Over the past thirty years, many such organizations were established under dubious names and operated in a state of chaos, prompting multiple international warnings concerning their activities. What is truly perplexing is that some of these associations exploit the process of assessing the needs for their workers and engage in human trafficking, much like fictitious companies.
They view it as a lucrative source of income, even though it is illegal. These individuals have little regard for Kuwait’s interests or reputation because they are hustlers Therefore, the burden is heavy on the Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, who must work tirelessly to rid Kuwait of these damaging flaws. She understands that we are now in an era where it is imperative to eliminate the problems caused by this long-standing legacy. Her role in this effort is vital, as reforming charity work, which was once a hallmark of Kuwait’s reputation as “the land of goodness” in the region and the world, cannot be compromised or tarnished. The unfortunate reality is that some opportunists have managed to exploit their influence to carry out dubious activities under the guise of charity work.
The Minister of Social Affairs must also work on ending the ongoing breaches within her ministry, particularly concerning cooperative societies, which are often at the center of scandals. These range from manipulated elections to issues related to the supply of goods, some of which fail to meet specifications, as well as allegations of bribery and other serious offenses. The people of Kuwait place their trust in the minister’s leadership and believe in her ability to tackle these issues and rid the country of such corrupt practices. This is especially important as we are living in an era of reform and are hoping to restore Kuwait’s position as a pioneer in the region.
