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Arab Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait highlights quality and innovation at Arab Government Excellence Award workshop
KUWAIT CITY, June 16: Kuwait reaffirmed its strong commitment to promoting excellence in government performance and enhancing public service efficiency during the opening of the introductory workshop for the fourth edition of the Arab Government Excellence Award, held Monday. Speaking to KUNA, Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Development at the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Mohammad Al-Ahmad emphasized Kuwait's dedication to adopting excellence as a key tool for institutional development, improving service delivery, and embedding quality standards across government agencies. The workshop marked the launch of the latest edition of the Arab Government Excellence Award — a collaborative initiative between the Arab League and the United Arab Emirates government — held under the patronage of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 'The award is designed to inspire excellence and leadership in government work across the Arab world by recognizing outstanding institutional and individual achievements,' said Al-Ahmad. 'Kuwait, through its participation, aims to make significant strides in institutional performance, which will enhance the quality of services provided to citizens and support institutions in addressing future challenges.' Also speaking at the event, Advisor to the Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Program, Fahad Al-Suwaidi, noted that the award is open to all Arab countries. He highlighted its mission to foster a culture of institutional excellence, promote visionary leadership, and encourage the adoption of excellence in public administration. 'The award not only aims to improve performance and ensure continuous development in Arab government institutions, but also serves as a regional platform for sharing best practices and successful government experiences,' Al-Suwaidi explained. He added that the vision of the award centers on supporting Arab governments in their pursuit of excellence and international competitiveness through collaboration and knowledge exchange. The goal, he said, is to ultimately serve societies more effectively. Al-Suwaidi further stated that the program seeks to expand participation across the Arab region, with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries often presenting some of the most distinguished projects. He stressed that the award's recognition of excellence underscores the importance of innovation and quality in public service. Winners will be honored in a major ceremony held at the League of Arab States headquarters, celebrating achievements in improving government performance, raising the standard of living, and strengthening the global competitiveness of Arab nations.
Kuwait Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait plans to crack down on public sector absenteeism by linking attendance to bonuses
Kuwait plans to crack down on public sector absenteeism by linking attendance to bonuses KUWAIT: Kuwait's Cabinet has directed the Civil Service Commission to establish a new accountability mechanism for unexcused absences in ministries and government entities. The move comes after several government departments reported low attendance rates on the first day back from the Eid holiday, with some offices seeing less than 60 percent of employees return to work. The new system, according to a Cabinet statement, is intended to curb a recurring pattern of absenteeism—particularly on days adjacent to public holidays—and to ensure greater discipline and efficiency across the public sector. The Cabinet has given the Civil Service Commission two weeks to develop a framework linking unexcused absences directly to key areas of employee evaluation, including annual performance reviews, eligibility for excellence bonuses, and promotions. The directive follows growing frustration over what some describe as routine manipulation of leave policies, including the use of sick days to extend holiday breaks—often at the expense of citizens waiting for government transactions. Attendance lags post-Eid ublic sector absenteeism has long plagued Kuwait's government offices, drawing criticism from lawmakers and citizens alike. Despite repeated warnings from the Civil Service Commission, the issue tends to spike around public holidays. The impact of post-holiday absenteeism was evident this week. The Ministry of Social Affairs reported just 50 percent employee attendance on the first official workday following Eid. Public Relations Director Fatima Al-Salama said in a statement the ministry was working to restore full operational capacity gradually while ensuring continuity of essential services. 'Administrative leadership is closely monitoring attendance to ensure employees return to their posts in line with established protocols,' she stated. According to Al-Jarida, the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy fared better, recording a 75 percent return rate. With more than 37,000 employees across the country, officials said the ministry's operations had resumed without major disruptions. At the Ministry of Public Works, attendance reached 76 percent. — Agencies
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State employee protections will go before Louisiana voters
A sign directs voters to a polling place at Edward Hynes Charter School in New Orleans' Lakeview neighborhood on Nov. 8, 2022. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) Louisiana voters will get to weigh in next on whether civil service protections should be removed from certain state employees, though it's not certain the measure will result in current government workers losing their status. Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. Jay Morris. R-West Monroe, received final passage Wednesday in the Senate on a 28-9 party-line vote. The proposal is a constitutional amendment that will be placed on a ballot April 18, 2026, pending approval of a separate bill to set that election date. Morris' bill would give state lawmakers power that currently rests with the Civil Service Commission, a seven-member independent review panel that oversees the hiring, promotion and firing of 39,000 'classified' state workers. The commission, working with state agencies on staffing goals, has the power to create and eliminate job positions and decide which jobs should have a protected status and which should not. Classified employees enjoy some degree of protection against politically motivated or otherwise unfair terminations and disciplinary practices because they have the right to appeal such decisions to the Civil Service Commission, which has the final say on staffing matters for most state agencies. Although there was debate and confusion earlier in the week over whether the bill would apply to current classified employees or just future-hires, Morris said in an interview Thursday it could affect current employees 'to a degree.' 'Obviously, it can affect future employees. That's obvious,' he said. 'But it can affect existing employees.' The degree to which it will affect current employees would depend on how the Legislature decides to use the amendment if voters adopt it. Morris said lawmakers would still need to pass a new statute that contains those specifics. 'Any bill passed would have to be carefully constructed to avoid any issues of an unconstitutional taking' of an existing employee's job, he said. Steven Procopio, president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), a state government watchdog group, said the amendment would give lawmakers power to determine which state employees should be removed from classified civil service. Whether they choose to take it that far remains to be seen, he said. 'Does it affect current employees?' Procopio said. 'I think it's technically possible. You can do it, but there has to be due process applied.' There is a legal precedent from a court case that could require some level of due process before currently classified employees can be fired, he added. 'PAR is for civil service reforms, but I am concerned this doesn't provide enough safeguards,' Procopio said. At any rate, the matter could end up in court before the election over the proposal's ballot language, which does not mention the 'classified' civil service and could mislead voters into thinking it doesn't apply to those workers. The ballot language states: 'Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to remove or add officers, positions, and employees to the unclassified civil service?' Lawmakers based the ballot language off of a current constitutional provision that states: 'Additional positions may be added to the unclassified service and those positions may be revoked by rules adopted by a commission.' All state employees are classified unless their job falls under one of the 13 unclassified positions listed in the Louisiana Constitution. 'I think that the ballot language could be misleading,' Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, said, noting that the state constitution specifically allows for legal challenges in such situations. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Arab Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait clocks high gov't employee turnout after Eid Al-Adha holiday
KUWAIT CITY, June 10: As the Eid Al- Adha holiday ended on Monday, most government sector employees -- with few exceptions -- resumed work in ministries, agencies and government institutions on Tuesday. While attendance and absence rates varied from one sector to another; a noteworthy observation was that attendance was significantly higher than absence -- even higher than in previous years. Some sources estimated the attendance rate at 75 percent of the workforce. They suggested that the reason behind the increase in government attendance rates could be the decisions issued to enhance discipline in the sector; including the mandatory third fingerprint or known as the 'flexible fingerprint', which began implementation in mid-August through a resolution from the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Sources pointed out that the absence from work and 'closing the week' phenomena are now at their lowest rates, compared to the situation before the implementation of the aforementioned resolution. Sources said this proves the effectiveness of the resolution; which has contributed to regulating attendance at work, promoting the value of commitment and optimal utilization of working hours, and preventing some people from dropping out of work. Sources also confirmed that most absences were due to sickness with medical certificates, emergency leave or regular leave; indicating that some ministries and agencies -- particularly those with a service nature and interact with the public -- naturally experience high attendance under all circumstances, especially since the holiday is preceded by clear and specific instructions regarding the necessity of being present after the holiday and regulating employee attendance. Despite the commitment of most employees to resume work, the newspaper noted some complaints about what they considered 'short vacation period'. Nevertheless, a joyful atmosphere prevailed in many offices and corridors; where Eid greetings were exchanged, sweets and dates were distributed, incense was burned, and Arabic coffee was served. Employees also spent their breaks discussing details of their vacations and the best restaurants and markets they visited during the Eid holiday. Following is a closer look at the situation in a number of ministries and government agencies: The corridors of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy in South Surra witnessed an influx of employees who gathered around the fingerprint machines since early morning on Tuesday. Fingerprints were taken easily and conveniently, given the availability of fingerprint machines in many locations in the ministry. Sources from the ministry indicated that employee attendance rate was around 75 percent in various sectors, departments and divisions; disclosing the absences are due to sick leave or regular leave. Sources confirmed that the ministry is keen on ensuring the presence of employees in order to avoid the disruption of workflow in the ministry and at its external locations; particularly the customer affairs offices, given the nature of work at these offices and their interaction with the public. Sources said this is in addition to electricity and water production plants, which require the presence of employees during summer. Sources stated that there are clear instructions for regulating workflow in the sectors and controlling employee attendance during shifts in sectors, departments and technical divisions, including electricity and water emergencies and the hotline that receives reports on power outages and malfunctions. Sources added the ministry is preparing to launch initiatives to enhance compliance and discipline. Meanwhile, Director of the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs Fatima Al-Salama revealed that the attendance rate of employees after the Eid Al-Adha holiday reached 50 percent. She said work is underway to monitor job discipline and a gradual return to full performance in various sectors and departments. She affirmed that the ministry is committed to ensure the continuity of service provision despite the low attendance rate on the first day after the holiday. She emphasized that there is direct follow up by administrative leaders to ensure the employees' commitment to resume work and carry out their tasks in accordance with established regulations. She added the ministry is working hard to provide an encouraging work environment and it is preparing to launch a number of initiatives in the coming period to enhance commitment and discipline, as well as raise the efficiency of job performance to achieve the goals of the ministry in serving the community. She stated that the ministry puts importance to job commitment, as it is the foundation of the success of any service institution. She disclosed that the remedial steps include gradual administrative procedures to ensure regular workflow, achieving quality and speed in meeting the needs of citizens and expatriates who benefit from the services of the ministry. On the other hand, the courts at all levels (criminal, civil, commercial, personal status) and the Public Prosecution in all governorates resumed full operations on Tuesday. According to reliable sources, attendance at the Ministry of Justice and the courts reached about 70 percent; with judicial and administrative departments operating at full capacity to receive clients and deliberate on cases in the court docket. At the same time, prosecutors in the governorates resumed receiving reports, conducting examinations of detainees and conducting patrols, with urgent complaints being given priority. Moreover, Ministry of Interior employees resumed work in all departments and service centers throughout the country. Employees at the Residency, Nationality and Passports Affairs general departments resumed work amidst remarkable commitment and high spirits to complete transactions efficiently and quickly. Departments and centers witnessed a high turnout of employees, reflecting their commitment to complete transactions and facilitate procedures for citizens and expatriates. The ministry previously announced that the Nationality and Passports Affairs General Department would receive women whose citizenship was revoked from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm during the Eid Al-Adha holiday; and would handover around 4,520 out of a total of 7,730 passports. The department worked at full capacity to handover passports to these women and facilitate their status adjustments within the specified period. Also, on the first working day after the Eid Al-Adha holiday, the work schedule of officials and employees at the Ministry of Oil, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries proceeded normally, with no reported absences, especially since oil sector employees usually work during holidays and other occasions, given the nature of the sector. Sources stressed that 'the system implemented by oil companies and approved by KPC does not permit or accept laziness at all.' They explained that despite the provision of facilities and privileges to employees in the oil sector, there are regulations on accountability in cases of unexcused absence. They added 'the nationals working in the oil sector are up to the task and possess high professional capabilities.' As usual, the Ministry of Health was not affected by the absence of its employees on the first day after the Eid Al-Adha holiday. Ministry employees resumed work in various sectors and departments; particularly those working in hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and related technical departments, including laboratories, radiology and others. Sources confirmed to the newspaper that the smart fingerprint attendance system played a significant role in ensuring employees adhere to official working hours, as doctors and administrators are keen to be present at work at the specified times.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State employees' civil service protections in doubt as constitutional amendment advances
Louisiana lawmakers may life restrictions on gifts for elected officials and government employees. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) A proposed constitutional amendment to dismantle a 73-year-old civil service system created to stop politically-influenced job placements in Louisiana government was narrowly approved Monday in the state House of Representatives. Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. Jay Morris. R-West Monroe, cleared the chamber in a 70-28 vote, reaching the very minimum two-thirds support required to put constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot. The measure will return to the Senate for a final vote on some House amendments and. If approved, it will go before voters in the Nov. 3, 2026, election. Confusion over the bill that many hoped would be cleared up only deepened Monday, specifically on whether the proposal would apply only to future state employee hires or if it could be used to remove existing state employees. Morris' bill would change the Louisiana Constitution to give state lawmakers power that currently rests with the Civil Service Commission, a seven-member independent review panel that oversees the hiring, promotion and firing of 28,000 'classified' state workers. The commission, working with state agencies on staffing goals, has the power to create and eliminate job positions and decide which jobs should have a protected classified status and which should not. Classified employees enjoy some degree of protection against politically-motivated or otherwise unfair terminations and disciplinary practices because they have the right to appeal such decisions to the Civil Service Commission, which has the final say on staffing matters for most state agencies. In a previous interview and during committee hearings on the bill, Morris said his bill would allow the legislature to designate classified state employees as unclassified, meaning they could be fired at will. But several changes to the legislation's text and its proposed ballot language have raised questions about whether current state employees will be at risk of losing their jobs. Presenting the bill on the House floor Monday, Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, repeatedly assured his colleagues the proposal would apply only to future hires. He based his assurances on the argument that the amendment allows only for job positions to become unclassified, not employees. If the Legislature were to unclassify a job position, any state employees currently holding those positions would not be affected, he said. Beaullieu's argument didn't land with several lawmakers opposed to the measure. Rep. Matt Willard, D-New Orleans, reading from the text of the proposal, asked why the ballot language specifically indicates the amendment applies to 'officers, positions and employees' – a phrase that appears twice in the bill. Caught off-guard by Willard's question, Beaullieu couldn't explain the discrepancy, referring questions to Morris, the bill's author. In a later interview, Morris would not offer any assurances as to whether existing classified employees would get to keep their protections. 'Obviously, only employees can be unclassified,' Morris said. 'Positions are employees. You can't unclassify them if somebody's not working.' Morris also refused to say if his intention is for the amendment to apply only to future hires. 'It's not gonna apply to anybody unless we pass a law,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
