Minister Al-Huwailah warns against violating shareholders’ funds

• The cooperative sector receives the highest number of observations from the Council of Ministers and other entities.

• Challenges in the cooperative sector have emerged, requiring serious collaboration to overcome them by adhering to the governing decisions.

• Cooperative associations have a long history of supporting the national economy by providing food, consumer goods, and essential products.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, held an open meeting with the Federation of Cooperative Societies and the heads of all cooperative boards of directors in the “Mubarakiya” Hall at the Ministries Complex. She emphasized that the meeting embodied the spirit of cooperation between the Ministry and cooperative societies, highlighting their long history of supporting the national economy by providing food, consumer goods, and essential materials.

Al-Huwailah added, that she also seek through this meeting to identify the difficulties and obstacles facing the associations, so they can be addressed and improved to achieve their goal of providing high-quality goods at cooperative prices, noting that the cooperative sector is among those receiving the most observations from the Council of Ministers and other entities.

Moreover, Al-Huwailah stressed that the interests of Kuwait and the funds of cooperative shareholders are a red line, and she will not remain silent about any abuses or violations—the law will be applied accordingly. She noted that challenges in the cooperative sector have surfaced, requiring serious cooperation to overcome them by adhering to ministerial and administrative decisions governing cooperative work. She emphasized that all are in the same boat, not working separately but complementing each other.

Al-Huwailah stressed that the ministry stands with the cooperative societies and supports their efforts, working to balance their initiatives to improve operations while addressing observed shortcomings to ensure the desired goals of cooperative work are achieved. She added that the new draft law is with the competent authorities, and once finalized, it will be approved and announced.

Furthermore, Al-Huwailah pointed out that the instability in the cooperative sector is not a recent issue but the result of accumulated challenges over time, with many cases being referred to the prosecution, Nazaha, and investigative bodies by the Ministry of Social Affairs. She stated that the majority of complaints received are related to the cooperative sector, and during each Council of Ministers meeting, there are observations about the work of the associations.

Al-Huwailah added that the financial and administrative observers appointed by the Ministry in the associations were referred for investigation for failing to perform their duties, after review committees detected several serious financial and administrative violations and abuses in the associations under their supervision.

Al-Huwailah continued that the ministry is not a sword raised against cooperatives; rather, it seeks every possible way to cooperate with the boards of directors and defend them as much as possible. The ministry doors are always open to receive any complaints or issues. She added that the problems within the boards of directors are the main reason behind many of the obstacles cooperatives are currently facing. Al-Huwailah said that she advises them to disagree without conflict and to prioritize the public good and the interests of shareholders above all else.

The Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi, stated that the implementation of the Kuwaitization policy is one of the Ministry’s key plans for the next phase, and they are working diligently to enforce this policy in all cooperatives in cooperation with the relevant government agencies.

Source: Al Jarida