RESIDENCY LOSS FOR STAY ABROAD OVER 6 MONTHS MAY END KUWAIT CITY, Nov 23: The parliamentary Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee on Sunday approved the proposal to amend the Residency Law in order to limit the residency period for expatriates with low-income jobs to five years. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Committee Rapporteur MP Abdul- Hameed Dashti confirmed approval of the bill which was presented by MP Abdullah Al-Tamimi. He explained the bill stipulates deportation of expatriates with low-income jobs after five years of staying in the country. He disclosed the bill also limits the number of expatriates per nationality to 10 percent compared to the number of Kuwaitis; except the citizens of GCC nations, European Union members and United States of America. He said the expatriate consultants and those with rare fields of specialization are exempted from the rule. He added the committee also approved a draft bill presented by MP Nabil Al-Fadel to revoke the law on the automatic cancellation of the residency permits of expatriates who stay outside the country for more than six months provided their visas are still valid. He revealed Al-Fadel also proposed granting residency to foreigners whose parents or children hold valid Kuwait residency permits, indicating the residency will be valid for five years and can be renewed for another five years as per the agreement of both parties. On the other hand, Dashti said the committee postponed final deliberations on a draft bill guaranteeing the rights of elderly Kuwaitis. Meanwhile, MP Abudullah Al-Turaiji presented Sunday a grilling request against Mister of Commerce and Industry Dr Al- Mohsen Al-Mudej to the National Assembly Office. The grilling motion focuses on these points: failure to protect public funds, alleged irregularities in the ministry’s works, administrative corruption, collapse of the deal in Kuwait Stock Exchange and violations in the Capital Markets Authority, among other issues. In a related development, Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim confirmed receiving the grilling request, indicating that he informed the concerned minister and the premier in accordance with Article 135 of the parliamentary bylaw. He added the request will be included in the agenda of the session slated for Dec 2. He also confirmed receiving the request of MPs to allocate two hours of the upcoming session to discuss the current situation of the local sports sector. He clarified if the grilling motion will be discussed on Tuesday, the two hours for the sports issue will be moved to Wednesday’s session. Earlier, 10 MPs presented a request to hold a special session to tackle the failure of Kuwaiti sports in general, and the national team in particular. The lawmakers called for pulling out the Kuwait National Team from the ongoing Gulf Cup after its humiliating defeat to Oman. This has prompted the citizens of Kuwait to demand for changes in sports officials. Moreover, Chairperson of Women and Family Affairs Committee MP Saleh Ashour has asked Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh to quickly submit the draft law on the protection of children. He said the panel needs to study the draft law and discuss certain points with the government before referring it to the Parliament for voting. He asserted the committee has done its part to complete the draft law, “but the government surprised everyone in the last session when it demanded for return of the report to the committee and postpone talks in this regard until it submits its own version of the draft law.” KUNA adds: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Sunday said MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji has submitted a four-axe interpellation request against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdulmohsen Al-Mudej. Al-Ghanim told reporters that he has taken the procedures in line with article 135 of the Parliament bylaw and informed the Minister and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah. The interpellation has been slated for the December 2 session, unless Minister Al-Mudej seeks a delay, Al-Ghanim added. Once an interpellation is submitted, a grace period of 14 days is offered for a delay request. On discussions of the state budgets, the Chief Parliamentarian said the State Audit Bureau and the parliamentary committee on budgets and balance sheets will meet on Wednesday to set a date. Question In his reply to a question, Al-Ghanim said interpellations constitute no obstacle to work between the legislative and the executive powers “as long as they are in line with the constitution and the (Assembly’s) bylaw” hoping this latest one is “elevated and seeks reform.” If the interpellation is discussed on Tuesday, December 2, as slated, the Wednesday session will be extended to Thursday, so as not to affect the Assembly’s agenda, Al-Ghanim said. Meanwhile, Al-Mudej Sunday welcomed the constitutional right of any MP to question a minister. Al-Mudej, in a press statement after MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji submitted a request to question him, said he would “deal with the interpellation within the constitutional frameworks and regulations.” Al-Turaiji, in his four-part interpellation, said Al-Mudej has “excessively wasted public funds and committed violations in his ministry,” coupled with administrative corruption and mismanagement. The MP also said Al-Mudej was responsible for the “collapse of trading” in Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), and violations of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), in addition to “veiling corruption and moral crimes.” Article 100 of the constitution states that any MP has the right to interpellate the Prime Minister and Ministers about affairs under their jurisdiction.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 03:35:16 +0000
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