Kuwaiti Cabinet holds weekly session

KUWAIT, Nov 30 (KUNA) -- The cabinet held on Monday its weekly session, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh said that Minister of Health Dr. Sheikh Basel Al-Sabah briefed the meeting on the latest development concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kuwait.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Committee in charge of preparing and organizing the parliamentary election for the sixteenth legislative term, stressed that all the final preparations had been fully taken.
The cabinet discussed the domestic workers' return plan, in light of an explanation provided by the Minister of State for Services Affairs about the details of this plan as all legal procedures have been fulfilled, all approvals have been taken from the regulatory authorities, and the detailed steps for implementing the plan have been completed as of December 7.The Cabinet examined the recommendations of the Economic Affairs Committee meeting regarding the financial observer office report for the fiscal year 2019-20, including a briefing by its chairman, the Minister of Social Affairs and the State Minister for Economic Affairs, on means to address the deficiencies mentioned in the various government agencies.
The Cabinet assigned its ministers to monitor observations recorded by the Financial Supervisory Authority on its affiliated bodies, and to take the necessary measures against those who prove their negligence or in violation.
It also assigned the Civil Service Commission, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Observers Authority and the authorities it deems appropriate, to carry out several matters.
These include linking the renewal of the positions of senior officials to clear measurement performance indicators, which measure the extent of compliance with financial laws and instructions, the extent of compliance with the requirements of the development plan and the number and type of violations recorded by authorities.
Also, reassessing texts regulating administrative and financial work, taking into consideration the public interest and safeguarding state funds, along with a commitment to prevent the appointment of officials in financial affairs, who lack the sufficient expertise.
The Cabinet also discussed the committee's recommendations regarding the Ministry of Finance's request to transfer COVID-19 state quarantine and meal expenses to the budget of the Ministry of Health, with the Cabinet deciding that the Ministry of Finance would continue to bear these costs, in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
It also allowed the Ministry of Health to use the Kuwait International Fairgrounds, during the pandemic, free of charge for the matter.
In regards to international affairs, the ministers began by congratulating the United Arab Emirates on the advent of the country's 49th anniversary of the National Day, which falls on Wednesday.
On this, it offered its sincere congratulations to President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, along with the Emirati people.
The ministers praised the great achievements made by the UAE and the evident development and progress it has made on various levels.
The Kuwaiti Cabinet also expressed its strong condemnation of the recent deadly terrorist bombings that occurred in Bamyan and Ghazni Province in Afghanistan, the violent armed attack that took place last Saturday in the village of Kushoy, in northwestern Nigeria and the terrorist bombing at the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The ministers underlined Kuwait's position in rejection of all acts of violence and terrorism, regardless of the motive or form, which violate international conventions, norms, religious and Islamic values and principles, and target innocent lives and destabilize nations.
The Cabinet also condemned the terrorist attack carried out by ISIS, which targeted a Chinese-owned oil refinery in Iraq's Salaheddine Governorate, reiterating its rejection of such terrorist acts, and its call for the international community to tackle terrorism in all its forms. (end) aa.sd