Proposal Lifts Ticket Burden from Kuwaiti Sponsor of Absconding Domestic
KUWAIT CITY, April 9: MP Jaman Al-Harbash has forwarded questions to Minister of Health Dr Bassel Al-Sabah about the medical tests of expatriate workers.
He said the Health Ministry’s reports exclude some cases of medical re-examination in foreign medical centers before entering the country, including those who were deported after finding out they have infectious or other diseases.
He asked the minister to provide him with a copy of regulations on the medical examination of expatriate workers, copy of exemptions from 2017 till date, number of expatriates deported due to infectious diseases from 2016 till date, cases filed in court against the ministry if any, court rulings, number of expatriates who were instructed to undergo medical examination again in their country and then sent to Kuwait if any, organizational structure of the sector in charge of the medical examination of expatriate workers, list of expatriate managers in the Public Health Department, their nationalities and other relevant information.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary Finance and Economic Affairs Committee gave the government, represented by the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS), until Tuesday to review the findings of the company tasked to study the proposal to reduce the retirement age.
Committee Rapporteur MP Saleh Ashour disclosed that the company’s opinion regarding the early retirement bill is different from that of PIFSS. He said the company is of the view that implementation of the proposed reduction of retirement age will not affect the financial situation of PIFSS which will bear the cost, estimated at KD 2.2 billion, if the proposal is approved. He added this will give those who have served for 30 years or more a chance to retire regardless of their age.
Furthermore, MP Abdullah Fahad has presented a proposal to exempt the sponsor from paying for the ticket of a domestic worker if the latter runs away. He said the ticket, in such cases, will be paid by the person who provided shelter to the runaway worker. Fahad explained he submitted the proposal to end the suffering of citizens who face financial difficulties in hiring domestic workers, in addition to the negative consequences whenever the workers escape from their sponsors and cause legal problems for their sponsors.
By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff
(Source: ArabtimesOnline.com)