SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 SHAABAN 29, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Thirteen Barrak Neymar aides detained, saves Saudi deported Brazil Don’t miss 5 20 your copy of MP proposes 5% tax on Min 32º Max 45º High Tide expat money transfers 11:05 Union chief slams mistreatment, abuse of expats Low Tide 04:50 & 18:20 40 PAGES NO: 16553 150 FILS By B Izzak conspiracy theories Prices of basic foodstuffs stable KUWAIT: Pro-government MP Kamel Al-Awadhi yester- Rethink it day proposed that expatriates should be forced to pay a five percent tax on any money transfers sent to their home countries to pay for highly-subsidized public services offered to them. The lawmaker, who headed the immigration depart- ment for years before turning to politics, presented his By Badrya Darwish proposal in the form of an amendment to the central bank law. The state should have the right to “a share in the money transfers by expatriates obtained against services offered by the state to them including educa- tion, health in addition to highly-subsidized services [email protected] and commodities like petrol, gas, electricity and water,” Awadhi said in his proposal. The majority of expat students study in private alaam Alyakum Mr Al-Awadhi and first of all schools at their own expense as they are not allowed by Ramadan Mubarak insha’Allah to you and your law to attend public schools. Expatriates also already family. Just the other day I was planning to S pay KD 50 per person per year as a health insurance as a write an article thanking you for pushing the gov- requirement for renewal of residence. ernment to pass a bill to stop the human trafficking Awadhi’s proposal stipulates that all banks and mon- and the greed of the recruitment agencies (who ey exchange companies must deduct five percent of bring in thousands of workers for whatever labor we money transfers by expatriates in favor of state coffers. need - be it domestic helpers, laborers, drivers, etc.) Agreements governing investments and free move- because lately the greed has gone off the hat. The ment of capital are exempted from the proposal. fees became so high that it’s become a burden to all Those who fail to pay the tax will be fined double the families in Kuwait. amount, according to the proposal. He said that based But then today you shocked me by your other on the latest statistics, expatriates have sent home plan which I wished you would have postponed dis- around KD 21 billion during the past five years, or cussing until at least after the generous month KUWAIT: People visit the vegetable market in Mubarakiya, Kuwait City. Prices of basic foodstuffs remain around KD 4.2 billion in yearly average. However he did (Shahar Al-Mubarak) Ramadan. largely stable ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, according to a survey conducted by the Kuwait not cite the source of his statistics. Continued on Page 13 Times.— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat. (See Page 3) Continued on Page 13 LOCAL TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 Cabinet holds weekly meeting KUWAIT: The Cabinet held its regular briefed the meeting on the outcomes of a weekly meeting at Seif Palace yesterday recent visit to Kuwait by Cypriot Foreign under chairmanship of His Highness the Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- The ministers also reviewed the out- Hamad Al-Sabah. Emerging from the meet- comes of the 135th session of the GCC ing, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ministerial Council held in Riyadh, which Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak focused on Gulf integration and the latest Al-Sabah said in news statements that at regional and international developments, KUWAIT: (From left) IOM mission President Iman Erekat, KDI Director General Abdulaziz Al-Sharekh, Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Follow- outset of the meeting, the cabinet was primarily Yemen, Syria, Libya, Iraq and the up and Coordination Department Nasser Al-Subaih and Administrative Assistant at ILO Dina Beheri. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh apprised of a recent message sent to HH Middle East peace process, Sheikh the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Mohammad Abdullah pointed out. Deputy Al-Sabah from Senegalese President Macky Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Kuwait appreciates expats’ Sall on bilateral good relations, inviting HH Anas Al-Saleh addressed the meeting on the Amir to visit Senegal. his participation in a recent Middle East The cabinet was also informed about a and North Africa economic conference held recent message to HH the Amir from Sultan in London. Then, the cabinet listened to a role in state development of Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah briefing from Minister of Information and Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, appreciating Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh warm welcome and hospitality he had Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al- Ministry organizes training course on workers’ rights received during his recent official visit to Sabah about the high-level meeting of the Kuwait, the minister said. UN General Assembly to mark the 20th KUWAIT: Kuwait is home to more than 2 million tional conventions, under the supervision of ILO Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Ministry of The ministers reviewed a recent mes- anniversary of the World Programme of workers from 120 nationalities who have been and the International Organization for Migration Interior and Manpower Public Authority, he sage sent to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Action for Youth (WPAY) in New York, contributing to the country’s development in all (IOM). He added that the event is part of the added. The course also seeks to help participants Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah from together with his meeting with UN fields, a senior Foreign Ministry official said yes- ministry’s developmental project under the title be acquainted with the international develop- his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. terday, adding that the efforts of those workers ‘Enhancing the role and efforts of Kuwait in the ments pertaining to human rights so as to boost bilateral friendly relations and existing are all appreciated. human rights field,’ which aim at evolving skills and protect these rights, he made clear. cooperation and ways of developing them. Government performance Kuwait is keen on participating effectively in of workers in this regard. Also during the weekly cabinet meeting, Furthermore, Chairman of the the activities organized by the International Close relation HH the Prime Minister expounded on the Government Performance Follow-up Labor Organization (ILO), and donates $300,000 Humanitarian center President of IOM mission in Kuwait Iman outcomes of his visit to Jeddah and his Agency Sheikh Ahmad Meshal Al-Ahmad voluntarily annually to support its plans and pro- The course comes at a time when Kuwait is Erekat said meanwhile that there is a close rela- talks with senior Saudi officials at the Al-Sabah informed the cabinet about his grams, said Ambassador Nasser Al-Subaih, promoting itself on the international scene as a tion between the development of countries and behest of HH the Amir. body’s annual report on governmental per- Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Follow-up and humanitarian center, Director General of the their respect of rights of workers. Kuwait is a safe formance and projects. Coordination Department. Foreign Ministry’s Kuwait Diplomatic Institute haven to everybody who lives on its soil, she Ramadan greetings The cabinet approved a draft law on Ambassador Subaih was speaking during a (KDI) Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sharekh said in a added, noting the country took advantage of On the occasion of the holy month of copyrights aiming to cope with interna- training course the ministry organized yesterday keynote speech. The two-day event aims to international experts to develop its laws to be in Ramadan, the cabinet congratulated HH tional intellectual property agreements, on the rights of workers in national and interna- upgrade skills of workers of Foreign Ministry, line with the international conventions. — KUNA the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and Kuwaiti and referred it to HH the Amir. Finally, the people on the fasting month, the cabinet cabinet discussed issues discussed by the minister added. Afterwards, First Deputy National Assembly and several political Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh reports on the latest Arab and international Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah developments. — KUNA Visitors tour an exhibition held outside the Cinescape theater. Fayeq Abdeljaleel’s personal belongings. Kuwaiti poet immortalized in ‘Land Lover: Fayeq Al-Abdeljaleel’ movie KUWAIT: Under the patronage of Minister of Information, State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al- Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, the premiere of the movie, “Land Lover: Fayeq Al-Abdeljaleel” was recently shown at Cinescape Cinema at 360 Mall. The movie tells the story of Fayeq Al-Abdeljaleel who was a prominent Kuwaiti poet, best known for his part during the 1990 Iraqi invasion. Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters Eng Ali Al-Youha, who represented Sheikh Salman during the event, said the martyr poet was not only a poet of tender feelings, but also a hero of this good land adding his weapon was the word and his goal was the pride and independence of his country. Youha said the choice by Dar Lulua Production Company to celebrate the life of one of Kuwait’s loyal sons represents a patriotic view worthy of appreciation and interest. Meanwhile, President of Dar Lulua and the Nowair Initiative Sheikha Entisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah expressed pride in the showing of the movie that was produced by Kuwaiti youth, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion.