THULHIJJA 21, 1440 AH THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 28 Pages Max 47º Min 27º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17912 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net MoI affirms Kuwait’s deep Two killed in Kashmir as Cardinals drop Brewers; 3 military relations with US 9 Trump offers to mediate 28 D-backs hold off Rockies MPs urge quick approval of unified public sector wages Quotas mulled for expat communities • 12,422 deported after failing health tests By B Izzak and A Saleh the new pay scale, recalling that it was the government which withdrew the draft it had submitted to the Customs seizes 4m Captagon pills KUWAIT: MPs yesterday called on the government to Assembly, adding the government now puts the blame on quickly complete the long-awaited unified pay scale for the Assembly. He said the new pay scale, if implemented government employees to achieve justice and equality correctly, will have important positive results among gov- among all employees. The new pay scale was submitted ernment employees, as under the scheme, the employee by the government to the National Assembly a few years will get the same salary and benefits regardless of the ago, but was withdrawn after criticism that it does not place of appointment in any government department. achieve equality among employees in various government MP Khalil Al-Saleh said the proposed pay scale will departments and takes away some benefits from some. be difficult to implement under the current employment MP Majed Al-Mutairi said the strategic payroll alter- policy and stressed he will reject any cuts to the wages native, as the new pay scale is referred to, should be and benefits of Kuwaitis. He said the existing gap accepted and approved quickly if it is based on a scientif- between government employees despite having similar ic and comprehensive study. But the lawmaker said that qualifications is the cause of social and financial disparity any such study must be first reviewed by specialists, and among employees. The lawmaker however ruled out the warned against taking away any benefits currently possibility of approving the pay scale in the coming term, enjoyed by employees. The lawmaker said the new pay because it may not be very popular, especially with elec- scale must not be applied to vital sectors like the oil sec- tions around the corner. tor and the national guards, adding that attempts to Meanwhile, informed sources said State Minister for reduce benefits to such sectors will not be accepted. Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel said she will present a He said the new pay scale must be transparent, achieve study to the Cabinet calling for passing a technical rec- justice and equality, and above all, provide for raising ommendation related to implementing a quota and decide salaries to help citizens cope with the high cost of living. the percentages of expat labor allowed in the country. The new pay scale should be fair with employees who do She said the quota will start with new work permits until not get the same wages and benefits like their counter- it develops in the future to set a percentage that no com- KUWAIT: The Customs Department yesterday foiled an attempt to smuggle nearly four million Captagon tablets into parts in other ministries. Mutairi also insisted that the munity will exceed, which is 25-30 percent of the number Kuwait. The tablets were inside plastic material in a 40-foot container that arrived from an Arab country. — KUNA wages of Kuwaiti employees must not be touched. of Kuwaitis. MP Saleh Ashour blamed the government for delaying Continued on Page 24 Iran warns if oil exports cut Trump accuses as Aussies join Gulf mission Jewish voters of GENEVA: If Iran’s oil exports are cut to national waterways can’t have the same zero, international waterways will not have security as before,” Rouhani said while ‘great disloyalty’ the same security as before, its president said meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah yesterday, cautioning Washington against Ali Khamenei, according to Khamenei’s offi- WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump raising pressure on Tehran in an angry con- cial website. “So unilateral pressure against said Tuesday Jewish Americans who vote for frontation between the longtime foes. The Iran can’t be to their advantage and won’t Democrats display “either a total lack of knowl- comment by President Hassan Rouhani coin- guarantee their security in the region and edge or great disloyalty,” sparking accusations that cided with a remark by Iranian Foreign the world.” he is promoting and politicizing anti-Semitism. His Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that Tehran Tensions between Tehran and Washington comments, which drew fierce rebuke from Jewish might act “unpredictably” in response to have risen since the Trump administration last groups, came amid his ongoing dispute with “unpredictable” US policies under President year quit an international deal to curb Iran’s Democratic Muslim congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Donald Trump. nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up “World powers know that in the case sanctions. Tehran has denounced the new Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, both of TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks alongside Iranian that oil is completely sanctioned and Iran’s penalties as “economic warfare”. Continued on Page 24 President Hassan Rouhani during a cabinet meeting yesterday. —AFP oil exports are brought down to zero, inter- Continued on Page 24 joint civilian-military sovereign council’s 11 members Sudan swears in were eventually announced late Tuesday after differ- ences within the opposition camp held up the process for two days. General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, who civilian-majority already headed the TMC, was sworn in as the chairman of the new sovereign council in the morning. ruling council Wearing his usual green beret and camouflage uni- form, Burhan took the oath in a short ceremony, one KHARTOUM: Sudan took further steps in its transition hand on the Koran and the other holding a military towards civilian rule yesterday with the swearing in of a baton under his arm. He will be Sudan’s head of state new sovereign council, to be followed by the appoint- for the first 21 months of the 39-month transition peri- ment of a prime minister. The body replaces the od, until a civilian takes over for the remainder. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) that took charge council’s 10 other members were sworn in shortly after- after months of deadly street protests brought down wards and Abdalla Hamdok, who was chosen by the longtime ruler Omar Al-Bashir in April. As a result of opposition last week to be prime minister, was due to yesterday’s move, it was the first time that Sudan was not be sworn in later yesterday. under full military rule since Bashir’s coup d’etat in 1989. HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- The first steps of the transition after the mass celebra- Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday sent a cable of congratulations tions that marked the Aug 17 adoption of a transitional to Burhan. In the cable, the Amir congratulated him on KHARTOUM: Sudanese General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan (center), head of Sudan’s sovereign council, watches the constitution proved difficult however. The names of the Continued on Page 24 swearing in of the new council yesterday. —AFP Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and Trump scraps effort for both the United States and Denmark by Saudi eases travel being so direct.” Yesterday, Trump snapped back at Frederiksen, say- Denmark visit, ing her blunt refusal to consider any negotiation was curbs on women “nasty”. Trump told reporters he had taken offense at RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday began implement- slams premier her description of any such deal as “absurd”. “It was ing a landmark reform allowing women over the age of not a nice way of doing it. She could have just said no, 21 to receive passports and travel abroad without per- COPENHAGEN: Denmark was left stunned yesterday we’d rather not do it,” Trump said. “She’s not talking to mission from a male “guardian”, authorities said. The by Donald Trump’s decision to postpone a state visit me, she’s talking to the United States of America.” reform, announced earlier this month, weakens the after the government told the US president its The decision to postpone the visit confirmed just restrictive guardianship system. “The passport depart- autonomous territory Greenland was not for sale. how interested Trump was in purchasing Greenland, an ment has started receiving applications for women Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has idea initially dismissed as a joke by some, but which the aged 21 and above to issue or renew passports and to called the idea of selling Greenland “absurd”, told White House later insisted had a serious purpose COPENHAGEN: Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette travel outside the kingdom without permission,” the reporters that she was “annoyed and surprised” at because of its strategic location. The territory - which Frederiksen talks to the press after US President Donald department said on Twitter. Trump’s decision but insisted that US-Danish relations is mostly covered in ice - has been essential to US Trump cancelled his state visit yesterday. — AFP Women in the kingdom have long required permis- remain strong. defense since World War II. sion from their male “guardians” - husband, father and Trump tweeted on Tuesday that “based on Prime The postponement has sparked strong reactions in our country is for sale. Then insultingly cancels visit that other male relatives - for these tasks, a restriction that Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she Denmark.