The Women and Family Affairs Committee in the Parliament has asked the government, represented by the Ministry of Housing Affairs, to submit its final vision on Kuwait’s housing issues, particularly the housing privileges for Kuwaiti women, before the start of the next legislative round. During its meeting Sunday, the committee approved a proposal to change the concept of a family and is now waiting for the government’s response on the issue.
Committee Chairman MP Saleh Ashour said State Minister of Housing and Administrative Development Mudhi Al-Humoud in addition to the officials of Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) and Credit and Savings Bank (CSB) attended the meeting.
Ashour revealed the committee explained the housing issues to Al-Humoud as well as the failure of previous ministers to meet the committee’s demands. Affirming bills and proposals to change the concept of the family were drafted earlier, Ashour said the current concept stresses on the role of the father as head of the family with the wife and their children as members.
He clarified the proposed concept of a family allows women to submit housing applications — similar to the procedures enforced in 1986 when Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis with children — like their male counterparts — have the right to apply for housing grants.
The committee also pointed out that discrimination is apparent in CSB’s loan procedures in which Kuwaiti women with a son will be granted a maximum of KD 70,000 loan while those with a daughter are entitled to only KD 45,000.
The committee then demanded an amendment of the bylaws in this regard to completely eradicate discrimination. Other issues tackled in the meeting include the right of Kuwaiti women, whose names are included in their husband’s housing grant applications, to apply for housing in case they get divorced later.
The committee proposed the issuance of a document protecting the housing rights of divorced women. Confirming the Housing Ministry will submit its vision on the housing issues before the beginning of the next legislative round, Ashour said the committee approved the proposed amendments on some articles of the law in addition to changing the concept of the family, which will be forwarded to the Parliament immediately after the government issues its official stand in this regard.
Benefit
Ashour added Al-Humoud has, in principle, responded favorably on the proposals, hoping such a response will lead to a sound decision for the benefit of the people. On the other hand, Al-Humoud described the meeting as fruitful as seen in the commitment of the committee members and the government to grant Kuwaiti women their rights, including housing care.
Adding that the government is keen on protecting the rights of widows, divorced women and Kuwait women married to non-Kuwaitis, Al-Humoud revealed the committee discussed a number of recommendations, such as the establishment of additional low-cost housing units and giving men and women equal rights to these units.
Asserting that the government will activate the role of the private sector to speed up the completion of many housing projects like Sabah Al-Ahmed City, Al-Humoud confirmed discussions between Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Kuwait Municipality are ongoing for the allocation of areas in the western parts of Hadiya and Al-Zouhr for housing care.
Meanwhile, MP Mussalam Al-Barrak has forwarded a proposal to grant privileges to Gulf nationals and Bedouns in the Kuwaiti Army, similar to those given to their Kuwaiti counterparts, such as the KD 120 increment. Al-Barrak clarified decree number 88 was issued on March 25, 2008 on granting KD 120 increment to Kuwaiti employees and KD 50 to non-Kuwaitis to help them cope with the rising cost of living in the country. He stressed Gulf nationals and Bedouns, who defended Kuwait during the invasion including the prisoners of war (POWs) and martyrs, are entitled to the privileges granted to their Kuwaiti colleagues.
---Arab Times
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