Blocking the bad, securing the good
KUWAIT CITY, April 27: While the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) set the monthly tariff and rental value for international transit circuits for internet services, it required all licensed telecommunications and internet companies to connect their networks to its internet and communications portal under its privacy protection standards. CITRA confirmed in a decision issued by acting Chairman Sheikh Athbi Jaber Al-Sabah, that through this decision, it can regulate and supervise the telecommunications sector, advance it, protect the interests of users, and ensure that licensed companies take all the necessary technical measures to block materials, websites, programs or other contents proven to have violated the laws of Kuwait, or anything which affects public order and public morals. The newspaper obtained a copy of the decision, stating that 'the monthly tariff for transit circuits in Kuwait for a 10G capacity circuit will be rented at KD458 and KD1,832 for a 100G capacity circuit.'
The decision stipulates that if the commitment is for 15 years with one-time payment of the rental value, the 10G capacity will be rented at KD54,111 and KD216,446 for a 100G capacity circuit. On the other hand, Sheikh Athbi Jaber Al-Sabah also issued a decision regarding the tariff for international leased circuits for Internet services through international submarine and land cables and the interconnection tariff (retail sale). He said the rental value tariff will be KD133,848 for additional capacity subscriptions for international leased circuits for Internet services for a capacity of (10G) STM64; if a commitment is made for one year with a one-time payment of the rental value, while for the environmental connection, the capacity and duration will cost KD111,540 and this applies to additional subscriptions, not the existing ones. He revealed the decision states that the additional capacity subscriptions included in the tariff mentioned in this decision may be sold to end users, whether individuals or companies (retail sale). 'The decision prohibits selling them to companies licensed as Internet service providers or providers, following the Ministry of Communications' decision, the CITRA Law, and the regulations and decisions issued in this regard,' he said. The decision regulates the work between the Internet and the communications portal of CITRA and local telecommunications and Internet networks. It requires telecommunications and Internet companies and those licensed to manage, establish or operate a telecommunications network or Internet service to provide communications to the public and information or content providers to connect the network they use to the Internet and the communications portal of CITRA per the privacy protection standards set by the authority.
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Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Lawsuits in Kuwait get a fee-lift
KUWAIT CITY, June 5: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah presided over the weekly meeting of the Cabinet, during which a decree-law amending certain provisions of Judicial Fees Law No. 17/1973 was approved. This amendment is the first in more than five decades. It aims to limit the growing number of vexatious cases, ensure the seriousness of the right to litigation, and promote alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration and conciliation. The amendment includes the increase of fees and rates imposed on lawsuits with a specified or unspecified claim value. It stipulates a five percent rate if the claim value is up to KD30,000; 3.5 percent if the claim value exceeds KD30,000 up to KD150,000; 2.5 percent if the value ranges between KD150,000 and KD500,000; 1.5 percent if the claim value ranges between KD500,000 and KD5million; and one percent if the claim value exceeds KD5 million. It raised the fees for orders on petitions and requests from KD5 to KD10; KD50 for urgent lawsuits and enforcement issues — up from KD3; court lawsuit fees increased to KD100, including the request to appoint an expert; KD150 for enforcement issues — up from KD30; KD100 for requests to dismiss a judge, expert and arbitrator; KD500 for a request to refer a property to a sales judge; the fee for warnings for each party increased from 500 fils to KD5; cost of stamp duty increased from 500 fils to KD1; and requests to expedite lawsuits, suspension and cancellation are subject to a fee of KD5. Article One of the Decree-Law stipulates the replacement of a number of articles of the Judicial Fees Law with new texts. Article Two states that if the lawsuit includes multiple claims of known value — whether original or reserve, and arising from a single legal cause; the assessment shall be based on their total value. However, if they arise from different legal causes, the assessment shall be based on the value of each one separately. Article Five states that if it is impossible to estimate a claim, it shall be deemed unvalued. The following claims, in particular, shall be deemed unvalued: claims for the authenticity of a signature, claims and objections submitted to the judge of urgent matters, original forgery claims, requests for enforcement of arbitrators' rulings and appeals against such orders, requests for orders to implement foreign court rulings, requests to dismiss judges, experts and arbitrators, requests and orders on petitions submitted to the Execution Department and appeals against them, claims for easements, claims for interpretation and correction of rulings, claims for review of endowments, claims for entitlement to residency in endowment sites or their eviction, and claims for eviction of rented premises. It also stipulates that if a claim includes multiple original claims or original and reserve claims — all of which are unvalued — a fee shall be imposed on each of them separately. If these claims are related, a single fee shall be imposed on them. Under the decree, a fixed fee is imposed on the following lawsuits: personal status lawsuits of all types, partition lawsuits between partners, appeals against orders on petitions, and the list of fees and expenses. Fees are also collected for each lawsuit that has been in effect for one year from the date of its cancellation and has not been renewed from the date of cancellation, or from the date of the expiration of the penal or consensual stay and has not been resumed. A fee of KD5 is imposed for a request to renew a lawsuit from cancellation, shorten its hearing date, or expedite it from the penal or consensual stay. The applicant is obligated to pay this fee regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit. A new fee of 10 percent of the value of the fee due is collected for the lawsuit when it is re-filed within three months from the date of the judgment, as if it never existed, or by abandoning it; provided that the subject of the lawsuit or its litigants do not change. The exemption request shall be submitted to the Clerks Department of the Court of First Instance, accompanied by the supporting documents or a copy thereof. The Clerks Department shall notify the Judicial Fees Department of the request and its documents, so that it may submit its report. A committee of three judges shall be formed to decide on the request in the absence of the parties and without pleading unless the committee deems it necessary to attend. The committee shall have a secretary who will attend its sessions and record its minutes. The committee's decision shall be issued by a majority vote of its members, including the reasons for the decision and the basis upon which the exemption was based. The exemption from fees shall be personal and shall not extend to the heirs of the exempted person or their replacement. The committee referred to in the previous article may, during the course of the case or after judgment therein, based on a request from the Judicial Fees Department or the opposing party in the case, annul the exemption decision if it is proven that the justified incapacity has ceased. The Court Clerks Department shall notify the circuit hearing the case of the annulment decision. If the fee-exempt opponent is required to pay the fees, he must first be requested to pay them. If it is impossible to collect the fees from him, it is permissible to recover them from the concerned party if the state of his inability is no longer in accordance with the previous article. A fee of KD5 is imposed on warnings and notifications — other than notification of the statement of claim, judgment and other notifications related to the progress of a dispute before the court — for each person notified. A fee of 500 fils is collected for each page of the copy of the judgment requested from non-litigants. The same fee is imposed for each page requested by the litigants after they obtained the first copy. A fee of KD1 is imposed on certificates and copies of the lawsuit papers requested by the litigants or others regarding the progress of the lawsuit or the judgment therein. It also stipulates that the courts shall adjudicate in lawsuits and requests for which the fee is paid in advance, or for which a temporary exemption is established. No lawsuit or request may be initiated before this fee is paid. If it is found that it has not been paid, the court shall grant the plaintiff an appropriate period for payment. If he does not pay within that period without an acceptable excuse, the lawsuit is deemed null and void. The provisions of Article 123 of the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law shall apply to orders to assess fees and the appeals against them. Without prejudice to the rules of exemption from court fees, the plaintiff is obligated to pay the fee until a final judgment is issued against the other party. The explanatory memorandum states that Law No. 17/1973 regarding judicial fees was issued more than 50 years ago; and it has not been amended despite the economic and social changes in recent years, including the rise in inflation rate and the level of per capita income, which led to an increase in the prices of goods and services. It added that the increasing level of public culture and trust in the judiciary have encouraged citizens to resort to the courts as a safe haven for resolving their disputes. This has led to a steady increase in the number of cases brought before them; hence, litigants have to endure the pain of waiting for resolution.
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Italian envoy highlights strong Kuwait-Italy ties
KUWAIT CITY, June 3: Italian Ambassador to Kuwait Lorenzo Morini has stressed that Kuwaiti-Italian relations are an exemplary model of partnership based on mutual trust, fruitful cooperation, and shared values and principles. In a speech delivered during his country's National Day celebration with Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in attendance, Morini affirmed that 'political dialogue between Italy and Kuwait is distinguished. Our cooperation in the field of security and our economic relations are excellent. Italy and Kuwait are committed to playing an active role on the international stage to promote peace, dialogue and pluralism; and to support developing countries.' He added, 'Today, we celebrate a pivotal moment in our country's history -- a moment that ushered in an era of justice, unity, peace and prosperity for the Italian people. Today, in this hall, we see living examples of the achievements that Italy has made, thanks to that historic decision.' He also disclosed, 'I have found in Kuwait a true passion and deep love for products made in Italy, and everything related to our culture and traditions. I believe that most of this success is due to the Italian citizens residing in Kuwait. I am deeply grateful for their daily commitment to promote Italy's image and improve relations between our countries and peoples.' He concluded, 'I look forward to continuing to work with the Kuwaiti authorities during my term to strengthen relations between Kuwait and Italy. I am confident that I will have your support, as I have had it since my first day in this wonderful country.'
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Salaries On The Rise For Kuwaitis And Expats
KUWAIT CITY, June 3: The average salary of Kuwaiti males increased by 0.5 percent from KD1,882 in 2023 to KD1,892 in 2024; while that of females increased by 0.8 percent from KD1,323 to KD1,334, as per the most recent labor force statistics. In the public sector, the average salary of Kuwaiti males increased by 0.1 percent from KD1,951 to KD1,953; while that of females increased by 0.65 percent from KD1,366 to KD1,375. In the private sector, the average salary of males increased by 2.68 percent -- from KD1,600 to KD1,643; while that of females rose by 2.3 percent from KD1,042 to KD1,066. According to the statistics, the average monthly salary of expatriates increased by 0.9 percent in 2024, rising to KD340, compared to KD337 in 2023. The rate increased by 1.33 percent in the government sector from KD752 to KD762 and by 0.94 percent in the private sector from KD317 to KD320. The average salary of expatriate males increased by 0.63 percent -- from KD318 to KD320, while that of females increased by 0.8 percent from KD475 to KD479. In the public sector, the average salary of expatriate males rose by 1.38 percent from KD794 to KD805, while that of females increased by 1.4 percent from KD711 to KD721. Private sector In the private sector, the average salary of expatriate males increased by 0.98 percent from KD305 to KD308, while that of females increased by 0.47 percent from KD421 to KD423. Moreover, the average monthly salary of Kuwaitis increased by 6.3 percent over the past five years from KD1,474 in 2020 to KD1,568 in 2024. In the public sector, their average salary increased by 4.8 percent, compared to 13.27 percent in the private sector. In general, the average salary of Kuwaiti males increased by 5.8 percent, while that of females increased by 7.14 percent. In the government sector, the average salary of Kuwaiti males increased by 4.3 percent, while that of females increased by 5.6 percent. In the private sector, the average salary of Kuwaiti males increased by 11.46 percent, while that of females increased by 13.64 percent. On the other hand, the average monthly salary of expatriates within the same period increased by 6.9 percent KD318 in 2020 to KD340 in 2024. This rate increased by six percent in the government sector, while it increased by seven percent in the private sector. The average salary for male expatriates increased by 6.3 percent and 3.67 percent for females. In the public sector, the average salary of males rose by 6.3 percent and for females by 5.8 percent. In the private sector, the average salary of males rose by 6.57 percent and for females by 5.22 percent.
