(MENAFN- Arab Times) Â The National Assembly on Tuesday approved a number of bills, including the final draft bill pertaining to the privatization of the Kuwait Airways Corporation.
The Assembly also unanimously approved a bill to form a telecommunications and information technology authority, in its first deliberation, but delayed the second vote for further amendments. The Parliament also approved amendments to the Housing Care Law and to bring in par the loan amount for Kuwaiti men and women. They have been referred to the government for approval.
The amendments to the Kuwait Airways privatization bill, with regards to the structure and management of the company, were unanimously approved in the first and second deliberations.
The bill transforms the corporation from a public institution into a shareholding company. The amendments give the Kuwaiti employees who transfer to the company the right to subscribe 3 percent of its capital. They are also given 'golden shares' in the company but the value of those shares will be decided by the Cabinet.
According to Article 7, "the Cabinet sets the minimum quota of Kuwaiti workforce in the corporation, provided it is not less than the previous quota, giving priority of employment to Kuwaitis over foreigners even if they are retirees."
On another note, during discussions in the Assembly, MP Khaled Al-Shatti shed light on "the confiscation of Christian books by the Kuwaiti customs."
He said the Christians are suffering due to the confiscation of their books "even from their Churches." He noted the countries with interest in Kuwait base their relations on the freedoms available in the country. Al-Shatti called on the Finance Ministry to advise the customs department to allow the books into the country "provided they are for personal use."
Meanwhile, MP Safa Al-Hashem has criticized the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor on the issue of deportation of the expatriate workers. She said she supports the deportation of those who pose a risk to national security "but not real workers."
Al-Hashem has called on this ministry to cooperate with the Interior Ministry and "hold accountable the sponsors who've brought marginal workers into the country."
She added the issue cannot be solved without holding the sponsors responsible. She said the expatriate workers should not be subjected to financial, material and psychological damage as a result of deportation, especially the violators of traffic laws.
In other developments, the Assembly rejected the Public Prosecution request to lift the immunity of MP Kamel Al-Awadhi on the issue of Audio/Visual misdemeanor case.
The case was filed by a principal of a public school accusing the MP of making defamatory statements against his character.
Al-Awadhi had requested his colleagues to approve to lift his immunity; however 28 MPs, out of a quorum of 45, approved the Legal and Legislative Committee's rejection of the prosecution's request.
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