Kuwait PM prioritises welfare state in government’s agenda

Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem highlights the welfare state as the core focus of the government’s work program.

“At Strategic Alternative, our mission is to address wage inequality equitably. We are committed to achieving fairness in the distribution of support, recognizing that individual needs vary. We understand that support cannot be uniform for both the capable and the needy,” the prime minister added.

Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem dismissed rumors of conflict within the ruling family as ‘drama.’ He announced on Sunday that the government’s work program is nearing completion and will soon be presented to the National Assembly, emphasizing its alignment with the vision of His Highness the Amir.

In a meeting with local newspaper editors, the prime minister stressed that the government’s work program places a strong emphasis on preserving the welfare state by empowering the middle class, highlighting its pivotal role in ensuring societal stability.

His Highness explained the disparity in public sector employee wages, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to address it fairly. He underscored that the strategic alternative seeks to rectify wage inequality without compromising employees’ rights, which is an entrance to reform the labor market in a broad way.

His Highness explained that there is a disparity in the wages of employees in the public sector and we are working to solve it fairly, noting that “the strategic alternative aims to solve the problem of wage inequality fairly and without prejudice to the rights of employees, which is an entrance to reform the labor market in a broad way.”

The prime minister emphasized the pivotal role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the primary source of national labor employment in leading industrial nations. He underscored the government’s commitment to developing and supporting these enterprises to facilitate the entry of 300,000 citizens into the labor market over the next decade. Highlighting the necessity of private sector and SME involvement, he noted that the public sector alone cannot absorb this influx.

Regarding support distribution, the prime minister stressed the need for equitable allocation, tailored to the capabilities and needs of recipients. He also addressed the Future Generations Reserve Fund, highlighting its global acclaim and the Kuwaiti experience, noting that Norway established a similar fund inspired by Kuwait’s example two years later.

During the discussion, the prime minister emphasized national security as a cornerstone of the government’s work program, encompassing internal and external security, food security, cybersecurity, and other critical aspects.

He stressed that “sustainability the welfare state is unattainable while we continue to rely on depleted resources, and the solution lies in diversifying the economy.” He pointed out the government’s efforts to transform depleted resources into vital assets that align with future needs.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem highlighted Kuwait’s strong global presence in the IT index, exemplified by Google Cloud’s decision to operate in our market. Regarding foreign relations, the prime minister emphasized the country’s significant investment in soft power, notably evident during its resilience in the face of a neighboring invasion.

During his meeting with newspaper editors, the prime minister elaborated on the timing of the government’s formation. He noted that it was announced 11 days after receiving the trust from His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness explained that he received the high Amiri trust on January 4, prompting immediate efforts to initiate the formation process.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Sabah Al-Salem emphasized that the timeframe for government formation is not fixed, especially with an existing National Assembly, as the two-week deadline applies only in the event of new parliamentary elections.

He noted that in some cases, government formations have extended beyond two months. However, he expressed his commitment to promptly engaging with the legislative authority to ensure the smooth functioning of the legislative process and avoid unnecessary delays.

His Highness said that in some cases, the formation of governments have extended beyond two months, but I informed His Highness that we want to start seriously with the legislative authority to enable it to turn the legislative wheel and not delay in forming.