25-02-2025
Kuwait Tightens Oversight On Cooperatives Ahead Of Ramadan, Warns Against Excessive Spending
Kuwait's Ministry of Social Affairs has set new guidelines for Ramadan festivals in cooperative societies, emphasising the need for responsible spending and stronger oversight.
Minister Dr. Amthal Al Huwailah announced that while funds will be allocated for Ramadan events, cooperatives must adhere to budget limits and prioritise financial sustainability.
Dr. Al Huwailah reaffirmed the government is committed to assisting cooperative societies, stressing that Kuwait's leadership has prioritized the promotion of national products. 'There is a clear directive from the political leadership to support local goods because they are among the best available,' she said.
With Ramadan approaching, Dr. Al Huwailah announced that the government would allocate funds to support cooperative societies in organizing Ramadan festivals.
However, she cautioned against excessive expenditures, emphasizing the need for financial discipline. 'Spending must remain within the allocated budget,' she stated, urging cooperatives to ensure efficient resource management while meeting customer needs.
She also addressed concerns about some cooperative societies resisting Ministry decisions, warning that such actions would not be tolerated. 'We are not here to obstruct your activities, but to help ensure that the interests of Kuwait and shareholders' money are protected,' she said, calling for collective efforts to overcome sectoral challenges.
She urged cooperatives to diversify their product offerings to prevent customers from turning to parallel markets. 'Reducing expenses and increasing revenue is essential for the sustainability of our cooperatives,' she noted.
Dr. Al Huwailah also highlighted reports from the Food Authority citing cleanliness violations in certain cooperatives, which led to temporary closures. The Ministry, she assured, is working closely with stakeholders to address these issues and maintain high standards in the sector.
Meanwhile, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dr. Khaled Al Ajmi unveiled a new system to Kuwaitise supervisory positions in cooperative societies. Moving forward, applicants will be selected primarily based on their performance in a standardized test rather than relying solely on interviews.
Under the new selection process, candidates will be evaluated out of 100 points — 90 for the test and 10 for the interview. Applications will be processed through the 'Fakhr' platform in collaboration with the Public Authority for Manpower and the Union of Cooperative Societies.
The change aims to minimise human error and ensure that the most qualified individuals are appointed to leadership roles.
