Kuwait Times

Published Date: November 25, 2007

KUWAIT: The Deputy General Manager of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources Nabela Al-Khalil warned all citizens and expatriates that they should stay away from birds, particularly birds that stay on roofs and in open areas. Al-Khalil said that Kuwait must take a few preventive measures as cases of bird flu were discovered in Saudi Arabia.

Cabinet may approve salary hike
KUWAIT: In its next session on Monday, the Cabinet will discuss the demands of government employees for a salary raise. A source from the Cabinet stated that the Cabinet will probably raise the salary of government employees by 25 percent. The sources stressed that the raise will be announced at the end of February 2008 during the celebration of Kuwait's national day. The source said the Cabinet will give bigger raises to government employees whose salaries are below KD 700.

Patients Aid Fund
KUWAIT: The chairman of the Patients Aid Fund Dr. Mohammed Al-Sharhan thanked Zain (formerly known as MTC) telecommunications for donating KD 50,000 to patients who suffer from cancer and cardiac illnesses. Last year, the fund donated over KD 261,000 to patients suffering from cancer and KD 75,000 to patients suffering from cardiac illnesses.

Stolen wires and cables
KUWAIT: The theft of copper wires and other cables from the Ministry of Electricity and Water during the first six months of 2007 has cost the ministry KD 500,000. Because of this, the MEW held a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Interior to take action and stop this phenomenon. The Interior Ministry in turn, informed the owners of scrap yards to make sure to get a photocopy of anyone who is selling wires or cables to them in order to see if the wires were stolen or not. The Ministry of Interior
noted that any scrap yard owner who does not follow these rules will be penalized.

Female employee curfew
KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Jamal Al-Shehab declared that he would give more authority to officials who are in charge of making sure that labor laws are followed by private companies. Al-Shehab said these officials will now have the power to penalize and even close down companies which do not follow Kuwait's labor laws. In other news, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor's Assistant Undersecretary Dr. Saleh Al-Shaikh said they will be enforcing articles 23 and 24 of the state's labor
law which bans women from working from 8 pm till 7 am. Al-Shaikh stated that only women who work at hospitals and health centers and women who have permission from the ministry will be exempted from this labor law.