Dirty Dinar

Yesterday, I posted about the cleaners’ strike. An update in the Arab Times today says the issue has been resolved:

Of the 5,000 Bangladeshi cleaners, who had gone on strike on Sunday, many went back to work Monday after the company cleared their two months’ back pay, says Shariar Siddiky, the Labour Attache at the Bangladesh embassy. Siddiky was unable to provide the exact number of workers who returned to work, but added that over 5,000 cleaners had stopped working, accusing their company of flouting the contract. He added that cleaners working at the health and the defense ministries resumed work and the embassy is exerting efforts to find a solution to the problems of workers employed with other establishments. The workers of the above two ministries, who were being paid KD 18 salary earlier, will now receive KD 40.

On the one hand, it’s good that they bumped up their salaries 220%. On the other, aren’t their services worth more than KWD 40? Keep in mind that only the workers at the Health & Defense Ministries got a pay hike. The workers at other Ministries will have to wait to see their issue resolved.

In other strike news, the Kuwait Times reported there was a gas station workers strike. Did it affect you?

Here’s a sad story from the Arab Times:

Kuwait : A Kuwaiti woman recently visited the Al-Rai daily to tell about her financial difficulties and offered to sell the retina and cornea of one of her eyes and a kidney to help her pay her debts, reports Al-Rai daily. The woman, who is a widow, is a former employee of the Ministry of Health and is a mother of three children. It has been reported the woman owes KD 19,000 to a bank and KD 5,000 to a company.

It’s incredible that the woman is in such a desperate state as to want to give up body parts. It’s the first time I’ve heard of something of its kind in Kuwait. One of my first thoughts was why the woman wasn’t employed at the Ministry of Health anymore. Is she retired? Couldn’t she find another job?

I hope she finds a way to become debt-free without having to resort to such extreme measures.

A friend of mine emailed me this:

Effective from February 7th, 2008, the ticket price for attending a cinema show is increasing from KWD 2.500 to 3.000. In my opinion, a 0.500 increase isn’t too bad.

I was surprised to see that there were discounted prices for Monday shows. I wonder if people take advantage of this offer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the cinemas full on Mondays. It’s worth attending when it’s half the price of an average ticket!

VIP cost KWD 6.000 which is double the price of an average ticket. I haven’t been to the VIP cinema yet. Is it worth the extra price?

Today’s Kuwait Times featured the article below. I didn’t realize that the number of women in the private sector was so low. Is it possible that only 5% of Kuwaiti women work in the private sector? I’m proud to be one of them but that percentage seems really low! I can’t help but think this is inaccurate. I know plenty of women who own their own businesses and work in the private sector.

KUWAIT: Kuwait is in the forefront of Arab countries in view of women’s participation in labor force by 42 per cent in line with 2006 statistics, an Arab economist said here yesterday.

The percentage of Kuwaiti women’s involvement in labor force is continuously on the increase, having recorded roughly 37 percent and 42 percent in 2003 and 2006 respectively, Riyad bin Jalili, an economist at the Arab Planning Institute (API), told a symposium on women and development in the Arab world.

Most working women, who are university graduates, are concentrated in the public sector by around 95 percent, he said. In spite of the high percentage of Kuwaiti women’s participation in labor force, leading state posts are often inaccessible to them, having stood up at merely six percent in 2004, Jalili added.

Kuwaiti working women’s diversified presence in the labor market is still meager if compared to other Arab countries, he said, arguing that the upward trend of women’s education has a limited impact on their diversified involvement in the labor market. They account for 45 percent in administrative professions, 24 percent in teaching and just four percent in medicine and science.

However, divorced women were more active than married ones in terms of economic activities in 2006, he said. Joblessness among Kuwaiti females and males hit 5.2 percent and 2.7 percent respectively in 2006, he added. — KUNA

Published Date: January 23, 2008 in the Kuwait Times

Kuwait Times published an article yesterday by Muna Al-Fuzai, a staff columnist, titled “Kuwaiti Women Accept Discrimination“. My first opinion was that the piece was poorly edited, poorly written and contained sweeping generalizations. However, I have seen some examples of what she’s mentioned so I broke down her article in block quotes and shared my thoughts below each one.

Kuwait women accept discrimination. This is not a public rule, but as long as only a few people are fighting discrimination against Kuwaiti women, then this is what I believe to be the case in Kuwait today. It is a sad and cruel reality, but this is still accepted by many ladies even by most of those who call themselves activists! Why can’t they say no and why can’t they fight back?

Unfortunately, only a few women fight discrimination because a large number believe that they should be confined to a certain role in society.

We have to stop thinking that allowing women to drive cars and go to work and maybe put on what she likes is all what women need and is enough to reflect women’s development in Kuwait. These are tiny details that don’t mean anything in regards to making decisions or planning the future of her country. She is expected to follow the male code where the man assumingly knows better and maybe thinks with a better brain!

Women in all Gulf countries are allowed to work. Yes, in some of these countries women are limited to where they can work but Kuwait has always been the leader of the region in having motivated and driven women with high positions in leading companies and organizations. Kuwaiti women have always been a well respected member of the work force.

In public life, women’s existence is still insufficient to make her word heard or noticed or even obeyed! She receives hits from different groups because she is a woman and no matter what degrees or experiences she has does not equal them. Men do not want to show successful examples of women in public because her success will only harm them and limit and threaten their power over other women in the society!

We have a successful number of Kuwaiti women in nearly all career fields. We have influential women in the media. The author of this piece, Muna Al-Fuzai, certainly has had her word heard and noticed by writing in a prominent Kuwaiti newspaper.

Maha Al-Ghunaim has recieved international and local recognition because of her work at Global Investment House. Her success is an inspiration to other women and example that Kuwaiti women do hold high-ranking positions and provide value to the work force.

An example of this are the laws that area against women, such as laws that hinder her from advancing in her career. A lady with a PhD can teach students law in the university, but she can’t obtain the post of a judge because conservative parties use pathetic excuses why she cannot have this job such as women cannot make right decisions since she is too emotional. These excuses are all unfair speculations and false allegations against professional and experienced women. Female judges run the court on a set law and not based on their minds and feelings!

Yes, there is discrimination but we have to work together to overcome them.

A woman is welcomed to work only if a man consents to her type of work or benefits from it! I know many girls in college who were very talented and yet ended up as teachers in primary schools because their husbands or fathers don’t want to see them in a place with men!

I vehemently disagree with the first statement. As a working female, I did not have a male consent to my type of work or benefit from it. That is partly due to the fact that I come from a supportive family that wants to see me excel in life.

I do know women who were constrained to being teachers because of the wishes of their families. These women can break free from these shackles but will face consequences to defying the family. In a country where you’re expected to live in the family home if you’re single and move out only when you’re married, many do not go against their family because it will bring a great deal of misery and grief to their home. It is a personal choice whether they choose to comply with the rules of the family at the expense of their future.

There are many women who come from very religious backgrounds who hold PhDs and work in their fields in the company of men with the blessing of their families. Each family has a different outlook and mindset regarding these issues so a broad generalization is unfair to Kuwaiti women.

A religious Islamic ruling was made recently to approve the husband’s right to take his wife’s salary because the time she spent outside was his own and thus he is entitled to take her salary which she worked hard to earn! Now, men in this society prefer working women because he will be able to use her salary for himself! A law was even issued in Kuwait to prevent women from working after 8 pm. Laws give all rights for men to choose their partner, but if a woman does this, she will be humiliated and punished.

In Islam, the Quran states clearly that each spouse is entitled to what they earn. Islam also states that a husband has to provide for his wife. I don’t know where Muna got her Islamic ruling from but there have been many who claimed all sorts of things in the name of Islam. It doesn’t make them right. It’s unfair of her to accuse and blame Kuwaiti men of taking advantage of this. I did some research and found Forza Kuwait has direct quotes to support this.

That said, I do know there are many families in Kuwait, particularly those with a Bedouin background, who claim the salaries of their children. Those earners are alloted an allowance although it is rightfully their money. So who do you blame? Society for allowing this to happen or the family for continuing these practices?

The law that passed to prevent women from working beyond 8PM is one of the laws that was made in the name of protecting women and preventing vice. I do not agree with it, but what Muna should have mentioned is that the Ministry of Social Labour has exceptions for these rules for various work fields. Kuwaiti women still work 24 hour shifts at hospitals. Women still serve restaurants, work in retail stores, banks, and work in various other jobs beyond 8PM.

I will not even dignify her statement that, “Laws give all rights for men to choose their partner, but if a woman does this, she will be humiliated and punished,” with a response.

Sadly, many people think that if a woman receives a promotion or a raise, this is due to her wasta or contacts and not due to her abilities or how hard a worker she is! Even when a new government is formed here in Kuwait, it avoids appointing more than one woman at a time. I believe that one article is not enough to recite all the examples of discrimination against women and not only Kuwaiti women, but every woman who happens to be part of this society. Can women fight back? Yes, but this is not an easy step and the process is hard and it requires unity, sacrifice and lot’s of sincere effort.

Many Kuwaiti women, be they colleagues, friends or relatives, have been promoted and gotten raises. With each one there has been nothing but support and goodwill. We all know how hard each one of us works. Kuwaiti women may hold prominent positions but we still have to suffer the glass ceiling here and there.

As for her second comment about the government it is laughable. Women have only recently gained the right to vote. It is a wonder at all that we have any women at all in the government! We still do not have a female MP but give it time and it will happen.

Women have traditionally had a struggle balancing family life and a career but I do sincerely believe that as a Kuwaiti woman I do have it easier than others. Our government aids us in balancing life and work and our religion has always protected the rights of women.

Our current trend in Kuwaiti society is that Islamist MPs are trying to pass as many laws they can to segregate the society and curb some rights from women in the name of promoting morality. They have begun by segregating Kuwait University and private universities. I do not believe they will ultimately win this struggle because Kuwaiti women has always enjoyed their rights to work and manage their finances.

As a Kuwaiti woman, I do not believe I am being discriminated against and if I were I would not accept it.

Kuwait Times ran an unusually high number of articles today dealing with employment, salary hikes and labor laws in Kuwait. Or maybe I’m just more aware of them now that I’m looking into saving and investing.

Below is the article in full.

KUWAIT: A gulf of differences seperates the rights of those working the public vs private sectors in Kuwait. Issued in 1964, the labor law for the private sector requires longer hours for employees who in return receive fewer benefits.

For example, government receive about three times longer paid annual leaves and they work fewer hours and only five days a week. Private sector employees typically work six days a week, at least eight hours a day and have shorter paid holidays. Also regarding the salary increase and employees’ chances to get promoted to higher positions, these rights differ.Plans to revise the private sector labor law, however, have been halted. The Health, Social and Labor Parliament Committee announced last week that it had almost finished reviewing the draft amendments to the private sector labor law. The committee is still reviewing the two last sections of the draft which consists of 146 articles. Once the committee completes its review, the draft will be submitted to the Assembly for approval.

This draft was suggested by the Private Sector Employees Committee, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry and some MPs. Representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and representatives from the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program also attended the committee meeting in order to approve suggested amendments.

The draft law, if approved, would bring positive changes for employees in the private sector. According to the committee, this law should increase the period of annual leaves and it should also set the rules for other matters such as working hours, overtime, and many other issues.

The opinions of the employees of the private sector were similar to the committee and they said the law will bring satisfaction and comfort in working in the private sector for both Kuwaitis and expats.

I think it’s a great suggestion which shows appreciation for laborers. It’s an improvement in the legal system of Kuwait and it will positively affect private employees and encourage them to work harder,” noted Ra’fat, a 31-year-old expat employee.

The new law will give advantages to employees who don’t get holidays. “The best advantage of this law is that expat employees can travel for longer holidays, like a month, without any worries. Most expat employees visit their families aboard and they want to spend more time with them,” Fatma, a 24-year-old expat employee, told the Kuwait times.

For Kuwaitis working in the private sector, this law amendment won’t make much of a difference. “The allowances we get are the same as our colleagues in the public sector. It’s true that I work for longer periods than people in the government, but my salary is much higher. Also, I get commission and bonuses unlike in the private sector. I also have a 30-day paid leave every year in my contract,” pointed out Moath, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti working in a private real estate company.

The rights given to private employees differ from one company to another. “I work six days a week, and this makes me jealous of my friends in the public sector. On the other hand, my salary is much higher so I think it’s alright if I work more. I think the new law will bring us more advantages and it will satisfy everyone,” said Mohammed, a 26-year-old Kuwaiti working in the private sector.

Business owners have different views on labor law amendments as there are those who will sustain losses due to these new amendment.

This law will definitely affect me negatively as my laborers will work 11 months instead of 11 and a half months. Furthermore, if my employee holds a key position and I really depend on him, it will negatively affect my work if he leaves for 30 days. I’m flexible with my employees to extend their vacation if it is needed, but if the new labor law states that I will be obliged to give them a 30-day paid leave, I won’t agree to giving them any extra leaves,” argued Salah, a 35-year-old car garage owner.

Published Date: January 07, 2008
By Nawara Fattahova, Staff Writer

Here is another article from Kuwait Times, this one dealing with the number of Kuwaitis waiting to be employed by the government.

Every year unemployed people register to be placed in public sector jobs. If a person has not found a place after a period of six months from the registration date the government will pay out a monthly stipend until employment. Because of the high demand for government jobs, the Civil Service Commission encourages nationals to go into the private sector. However the longer vacation days and shorter work days are favored by many in their decision to apply for a public sector placement.

KUWAIT: The Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Abdul Aziz Al-Zaben recently announced that Kuwaiti citizens registered on waiting lists for government employment totaled 20,225. He said that great efforts were being exerted to reduce the waiting time and expedite employment procedures.

He added that CSC’s main task was to provide job opportunities for Kuwaitis in both the government and private sectors in coordination with the manpower and the government restructuring program. He noted that the CSC worked hard on restructuring manpower in an attempt to combat unemployment among citizens as well as decrease demand on government jobs.

We do our best to encourage national labor to work for the private sector,” he said. He pointed out that such an aim could only be achieved through holding special training programs to qualify citizens to work in certain professions. He said that other activities would include surveying the labor market through coordination with the manpower and government restructuring program.

He added that the CSC also cooperates with various government establishments and sends reports directly to the Cabinet every six months if any violations were detected in any of the offices. When asked to name a government sector employing the largest number of Kuwaiti employees, he said it was the Ministry of Education.

Published Date: January 07, 2008

Kuwait looks to be following in the path the United Arab Emirates set last November. In November 2007 the UAE announced that they will be increasing government salaries by 70%. Of course, they have inflation to compete with.

In Kuwait, people always want more money or their loans dropped. Time will tell how much of an increase public sector employees will receive. I’m more interested in the last sentence of the article.

KUWAIT: Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali said the government is focusing on the issue of increasing the salaries of all government employees before the end of February 2008. Al-Shamali said the Word Bank has prepared a study about the salary raise issue and the study will soon be sent to the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The study will have information such as the average income of government employees in various sectors and departments, the size of price increases and inflation rates, the financial amounts needed to be able to cover these increases, and other types of important information related to this issue.

Al-Shamali said after the report has been reviewed by the CSC, it will then be submitted to the Cabinet so it can be approved. He expects that the salary raises will be issued on or before Kuwait’s celebration of independence and liberation day, which is at the end of February.

Al-Shamali did not give any details about how much the increase would be and did not say whether the salary raises would be one fixed amount or would vary depending on government positions or departments. He said it is not possible to specify a certain amount with the World Bank’s report. “But God willing, the salary raise will cover everyone and will satisfy everyone as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled said the government is concentrating on this issue and the employees of the Ministry of Interior, whether soldiers, officers, or civilian employees, will have their salaries reviewed.

The minister promised that a full study about the salaries of Interior Ministry employees would be prepared and he noted that the employees from this ministry deserve the salary increase.

In another development, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor’s committee for expatriate work affairs said they have achieved many feats in a short span of time.

One achievement of the committee was a preparation of a study about minimum wages in Kuwait and a study about issuing commercial licenses in accordance to local labor market needs. The committee said they also aim to further develop the private labor sector.

Published Date: January 07, 2008