Emsak: 03:13 Fajer: 03:23 Dohr: 11:53 Asr: 15:28 Maghreb: 18:50 Eshaa: 20:21 Max 49º Min 34º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 15867- Friday, JuLy 12, 2013 Glimpses of Ramadan PAGE 5 MAKKAH: Worshippers eat during Iftar, or breaking of the fast, at the Grand Mosque in the holy Muslim city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday.—AP Local FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 Kuwait’s my business Your new business will help Kuwait create 1.7 million jobs By John P Hayes [email protected] n the news this week we learned from Mohammad Al-Roumi, creation will follow. said Al-Othman, but to date, only about 10 percent of IBK’s loans an undersecretary in the Civil Service Commission, that Since my column appeared last week, numerous Kuwaitis have been awarded to franchise owners. There’s a huge oppor- IKuwait must create 1.7 million jobs to meet the demands of have contacted me to say that getting a government-sponsored tunity waiting to be tapped. citizens who will expect the government to hire them by 2030. loan is too bureaucratic, but I’m not buying that story. According The undersecretary also said that Kuwait’s labor market is out of to Saad Al-Othman, assistant manager of the IBK fund, if a quali- Comfort for lenders balance “when most Kuwaitis opt to work in the public sector fied applicant provides the necessary documentation, a loan can Once you find a franchise to acquire, the franchisor not only and shun away from the private sector.” be approved in about 45 days, an extremely reasonable time- share its operating systems with you, saving you the time and No doubt the government wants to see more citizens moving frame. Granted, not every loan application succeeds, but 593 expense of inventing your own systems, but the franchisor also into the private sector, but for that to occur, the private sector loans have been approved in the last dozen years. Entrepreneurs trains you, and your colleagues, to operate the business. Then, must create more jobs. There is also the problem, as many would be wise to focus on why those loans succeeded and the franchisor provides ongoing support. And all of that adds up Kuwait business owners have explained to me, that the govern- ignore the naysayers. In every society people want to make sure to a feeling of comfort for lenders. They’re afraid of funding an ment makes it more attractive to choose the public sector over the other guy doesn’t get ahead, and they’ll do everything they untested entrepreneur in a new business, but they like the idea the private sector, but that’s a story for another day. The focus can to pull you down to their level! of funding an untested entrepreneur in a franchise. Because in a now should be on creating desirable jobs in the private sector, franchise, as the saying goes, you’re in business for yourself, but and Kuwait surely is doing its part to help that happen. The prob- Secret to getting your loan not by yourself. The franchisor is there to guide you. lem is that not enough entrepreneurs are showing up to do their If you’re cut out to be an entrepreneur, you want to get into Not all franchises are created equal, some are better than oth- part. business for yourself, and you like the idea of helping Kuwait cre- ers, and so you must search for the good opportunities. Not all ate valued jobs in the private sector, but you’re not sure if you franchises will succeed in Kuwait, but success is a matter of doing your homework and verifying the potential marketplace. There KD 2 billion for entrepreneurs have what it takes to start a business from scratch, here’s the are thousands of new franchises to bring into Kuwait and while Last week I told you about the loans that are available secret to moving forward. Find a franchise brand that you’d like they alone will not create 1.7 million jobs, they can create a siz- through the Industrial Bank of Kuwait’s (IBK) Handicraft and to own and operate in Kuwait. As soon as you say “franchise” to able percentage of needed jobs, and create some of the most Small Enterprises Financing Portfolio, which has already provid- IBK, or to any other government-sponsored fund, you’re going to exciting jobs available in the local labor market. Take it from a 30- ed KD 65 million to local entrepreneurs. Now there’s an even big- snag the lender’s attention and enthusiasm. year veteran of franchised businesses - few jobs or careers are ger fund coming online, the new Kuwait Small Business Fund, “We like franchises,” Al-Othman said with excitement, more exciting than what you’ll find with the right franchise. which will provide up to KD 2 billion for the development of “because they come with systems, recipes, marketing plans, and small enterprises. Money is available to help grow existing busi- they know how to succeed.” Lenders are always worried about NOTE: Dr John P Hayes heads the Business Administration depart- nesses as well as to fund startups. If that doesn’t get the entre- the new entrepreneur who has an idea, but no track record in ment at GUST. He has worked with more than 100 franchised brands preneurial glands pumping in Kuwait, then I hope Kuwait will business. Put that same entrepreneur into a proven franchise and written several books about franchising. Contact Dr. Hayes at invite expat entrepreneurs to apply for those loans and the job and the lenders get serious. “We’d like to fund more franchises,” [email protected], or via Twitter @drjohnhayes. In my view Fair compensation By Labeed Abdal [email protected] court order to compensate an accident victim with a lifetime salary for him and his wife and children was Aone of the most satisfying damages for accidents resulting from reckless driving. Having a monthly salary and a compensation lump sum is just the minimum for an air force captain whose life changed dramatically after the accident. Entering the road from a side exit directly into the middle lane without checking for incoming vehicles caused a collision leading to severe injuries to the victim. Tens of similar cases involve expats who are new in Kuwait and who need help from the authorities, especially to overcome language barriers. There must be English- speaking officers in every police station so that evidence collection does not get negatively affected. Good compen- sations from courts will always need a good structure of medical reports and well conducted investigations. Being in Kuwait City or the far north or south roads of Kuwait should not be a reason for lack of evidence. Nothing can compensate for the loss of a dear friend or family member - we ask for mercy for them - but a good, tangible and fair remedy is the least one can get. KUWAIT: Vendors in the Mubarakiya market are getting ready for the holy month of Ramadan. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Local FRIDAY, JULAY 12, 2013 Local Spotlight Ramadan and fasting workers amadan Mubarak everyone! Ramadan has just started in the middle of summer, and for those who fast, the day is By Muna Al-Fuzai Rlong and they will surely feel thirsty. But this article is not about those who fast while sitting in their offices with 24-hour air-conditioning. I’m more concerned about workers who work under the sun. They are the ones who suffer the most. I wanted [email protected] to write something today informing them on a few Ramadan legal issues. As you all know, summer is here are relentlessly long, with dust storms in June and July and humidity in August with tem- peratures not less than 50 C. The heat is searing and exposure to direct sunlight can cause sunstroke and sunburn. Without enough liquids to hydrate the body, it can be damaging. I am sure you have all noticed that working hours decrease in Ramadan. This was not a decision by the bosses who sit in their cold offices from their good hearts. The working hours have to decrease during Ramadan accord- ing to Kuwait’s labor law (for the private sector). “Working hours during the month of Ramadan shall be equal to 36 hours per week,” it says. The law also stresses that it is forbidden to make workers work more than 48 hours per week or 8 hours a day, except in jobs that are specified in this law including emergency services. This means workers get a discount of two hours. I personally think that no worker should be forced to work under the sun and in this heat during the whole month of Ramadan and should be given the option to work after iftar. He can work 6 hours from say 9 pm to 2 am when the heat is less and he doesn’t have to suffer from the sun or thirst. We need to focus on the fact that the law is rigid and not easy when it comes to the duty of the workers, but there has to be some supervision over companies who disregard regulations and laws. It is about the safety and life of poor workers who barely make their living here and is not about power. Those bosses who run the show need higher powers to make them understand that the decrees of working hours and working at night is not their choice but a law made to control the misuse of power against workers.