Women’s panel discusses family violence bill with justice minister





KUWAIT CITY, Aug 13: Chairperson of the parliamentary Women and Family Affairs Committee MP Safa’a Al-Hashem disclosed that the committee met Minister of Justice Fahd Al-Afasi and Minister of Social Affairs and State Minister for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel.

MP Safa Al Hashim

She said they continued the discussion on the bill about family violence, which was approved in the first reading during the last session. She revealed the government proposed some amendments to the bill in a bid to specify the employees who will be granted judicial arrest authority like those working at the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), Environment Public Authority (EPA), and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. She added the proposed amendments include improving the role of the Family Supreme Council, affirming that the committee and the government agreed on the proposed amendments.

Al-Hashem, who also serves as chairperson of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, disclosed that the committee met Minister of Finance Barrak Al-Shitan She said the Ministry of Finance submitted a proposal to amend Decree No.106/1976 on the future generations fund. She affirmed the bill stipulates suspension of the 10 percent reduction from the State’s revenues for the fund during the years when the country experienced a budget deficit.

She added Article Eight of Law No. 31/1978 will be amended in the committee meeting slated for Sunday. On the other hand, Al-Shitan explained the information spread on social media about the letters that his ministry sent to different public institutions and ministries; stressing this step is according to the Cabinet’s decision which assigned his ministry to coordinate with the relevant institutions in finding solutions to the economic situation. He revealed the letters contained suggestions and ideas which are open for discussion, emphasizing that no one-sided decision was taken in this regard. He said his ministry is keen on not touching the rights of national employees or the entire citizens. He added the public budget has not been implemented as it is still in the Budget and Final Accounts Committee where it is the subject of an extended discussion.

Moreover, MPs Faisal Al-Kandari and Khalil Al Saleh commented on Al-Shitan’s statement; asserting the letters do not just contain suggestions as they imply the intention of the Finance Ministry to seek solutions through the citizens’ pockets. They criticized the attitude of the ministry, pointing out that the economic document does not contain solutions such as increasing the fees or rents for plots that the State provided to traders and rich businesspersons.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff






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