Oil Workers' Rights Will Not Be Undermined, Minister Says
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SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 RAMADAN 17, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Alghanim to More than 700 England Iran: Bahrain Ramadan TImings expand Wendy’s doctors killed progress after ‘will pay price’ Emsak: 03:04 brand into Saudi in Syrian war Slovakia draw for crackdown Fajer: 03:14 Shrooq: 04:48 Dohr: 11:50 Asr: 15:24 Maghreb: 18:51 2 7 19 13 Eshaa: 20:23 Oil workers’ rights will not Min 33º Max 47º be undermined, Minister says High Tide 02:55 & 12:12 Low Tide MPs call for new strategy for Kuwaiti investments 06:55 & 19:57 40 PAGES NO: 16912 150 FILS KUWAIT: Finance Minister and Acting Oil Minister Anas Ramadan Kareem Al-Saleh said yesterday the government will not under- mine the rights of the workers in the oil sector who Social dimension went on a three-day strike in April to demand their rights. The minister said that the oil sector proposed a of fasting, Ramadan number of initiatives to cut spending in light of the sharp drop in oil prices and the workers went on strike By Hatem Basha even before these initiatives were applied. ost people view Ramadan as a sublime peri- He said the Ministry is currently in talks with the od, where every Muslim experience sublime workers about the initiatives but insisted that the Mfeelings as hearts soften and souls tran- rights of the workers will not be touched. The minis- scend the worldly pleasures. Another dimension that ter’s comments came in response to remarks made by is often overlooked is the social dimension of fasting. a number of MPs about the oil workers strike during A basic trait in all Islamic forms of worship is that they the debate of the budget of Kuwait Petroleum Corp have different layers of surface and hidden mean- (KPC) and its companies. The Assembly also debated ings. We need to explore the social values that fasting and approved the 2016/2017 budget of Kuwait can inculcate into the collective communal con- Investment Authority (KIA). science of the Islamic society. MP Jamal Al-Omar said that the government should Ramadan aims to cause a real change for the indi- sit with the oil workers and settle the problem with vidual as well as the society at large. The change is them because failing to do so could threaten produc- dual and bi-directional as the more the person tion of oil, the main source of revenues. MP Saleh changes to meet the ideals of the Ramadan, the Ashour questioned why no one has been held to more the society itself changes. The changes taking account from the oil sector for what led to the oil sector strike. He said that no official has been questioned or place on both of the two levels correspond to each held responsible for the strike. The lawmaker warned other in a comprehensive process. that the reoccurrence of the strike could lead to a catas- In practical terms, fasting helps Muslims appreci- trophe for the national and global economy as well. ate the blessings they enjoy in their daily life. Most MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji claimed that the top execu- people who are familiar with a lavish lifestyle fail to tives at KPC are so powerful that they succeeded in recognize the value of what they have. Fasting is moving the former Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair to the hopefully meant to teach us to appreciate the value Ministry of Public Works. of Allah’s bounty on us and to feel the plight of those KUWAIT: Kuwaiti MPs take part in a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Kuwait City yes- Continued on Page 13 who have to do without it. People feel and taste the terday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat bite of hunger that the poor suffer for most of the year. Muslims are encouraged to take practical steps to reduce their suffering. Ghabga - a traditional get-together or brag? So, Muslims compete in calling others to Iftar (food) and feeding the poor. Prophet Muhammad KUWAIT: The holy month of Ramadan brings good Kuwaiti tradition. Many companies and corporate explore their views on this phenomenon, which varied (PBUH) said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will time for the people to share traditional Ramadan hos- houses host Ghabga evening for the employees and between supporters of the idea of holding the have a reward like that of the fasting person, without pitality. The annual Ramadan Ghabga is very common invitees for socializing and getting together. It is also a Ghabqas in hotels and theaters and opponents who any reduction in his reward.” In Islam, it is a must to in Kuwait, which provides the atmosphere of joy and great time to indulge in food. insist on having it in the house. take care of your immediate neighborhood; the happiness among the community members. Ghabga, Corporate ghabgas almost always take place in Ahmad Youssef, a sales official at one of the five- prophet (PBUH) warned, “He is not a believer whose a meal served at late night, is a get-together that usu- hotels, and at an earlier time that suits most of the star hotels, said booking halls during Ramadan for stomach is full while his neighbor is hungry.” ally takes place from around 10:30 pm to midnight or employees. Annual Ghabga event strengthens ties ghabgas by Kuwaiti families was not a new tradition, Holding banquets, inviting people, distributing even later and there is always food at the ghabga. among employees and reflects the true nature of the but the most important determinants of this phenom- food in charity has extra virtue due to the nobility of Many people replace the meal eaten in a ghabga as holy month. And between supporters and opponents enon is the ability of hotels to accommodate the larg- the time. suhoor. It comes between Futoor (fast-breaking) and of this phenomenon, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) er number of people. Continued on Page 13 Suhoor (just before dawn) time wise. Ghabga is a met with a number of citizens and stakeholders to Continued on Page 13 Bomb kills 6 Jordanian troops Kuwait denounces attack; Amir sends cable of condolence AMMAN: Six Jordanian border guards It was the first attack of its kind target- were killed by a car bomb in a remote ing Jordan from Syria since Syria’s area of the frontier with Syria yesterday descent into conflict in 2011 and fol- Egypt court during an attack launched from Syrian lowed an attack on June 6 on a security territory, security officials said. The explo- office near the Jordanian capital Amman sives-laden vehicle blew up a few hun- in which five people, including three quashes Saudi dred meters from a camp for Syrian Jordanian intelligence officers, were refugees in a desolate eastern area of killed. The incidents have jolted the Arab Island pact Jordan where the borders of Iraq, Syria kingdom, which has been relatively and Jordan meet, a Jordanian army state- unscathed by the instability that has CAIRO: An Egyptian court yesterday rejected as ment said. swept the Arab world since 2011, includ- illegal a marine demarcation border agreement The southeastern desert area is close ing the expansion of Islamic State in Syria between Egypt and Saudi Arabia under which Cairo to where Islamic State militants are and Iraq. would surrender control over two strategic Red Sea known to operate, according to a securi- Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir islands to Riyadh. The verdict by the Administrative Court inflicts a serious foreign policy setback to Photo shows some of the dead sniffer dogs. ty source who requested anonymity. The Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- source said the attack appeared to be a Sabah sent a cable of condolences yes- President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s government which, well planned military operation in which terday to King of Jordan Abdullah II on together with loyal media, has zealously argued several suicide bombers were involved. victims of the terrorist attack that target- that the agreement would bring economic benefits KNPC clarifies reports on for Egypt and that the islands are owned by Saudi No group has claimed responsibility. The ed a military zone in the Syrian border of Arabia, which merely placed them under Egyptian army said a number of other vehicles Al-Raqbaan, which serves Syrian execution of sniffer dogs control in 1950 for protection. used in the attack were destroyed and refugees. In the cable, His Highness the The verdict by the Administrative Court, which By Ben Garcia, Agencies gested that at least 24 dogs had been that 14 other people were wounded in Amir stressed Kuwait’s condemnation of rules on cases in which the government is involved, euthanatized due to the cancellation of a the attack at around 5.30 am. Continued on Page 13 can be appealed. There was no immediate com- KUWAIT: The Kuwait National Petroleum contract and unpaid salaries. Unconfirmed ment from the Saudi or Egyptian governments on Company (KNPC) issued a statement yes- sources said that the animals were sick and the court ruling. Egypt’s parliament, which is terday denying any link with the report- had been put to death for humane rea- packed by government supporters, has yet to ed ‘execution’ of sniffer dogs that were sons. But local animal rescuer and activist, endorse the agreement. In a brief verdict met with supposed to be used by the company Mimi Mamoun has disputed this account. an eruption of applause and chants, Judge Yahya according to deal with a local contractor.