Finance min. refutes speculations on "strategic alternative plan"

KUWAIT, July 1 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Minister of Finance Manaf Al-Hajri said Saturday "the strategic alternative plan" for salaries was still under careful study.

"The elements of the plan are far from complete," he told KUNA noting that speculations circulated on social media in this regard are "totally unrealistic." "The elements of the study have to be worked out in a way that could serve the main objectives of the general administration of the state, in particular, and the national economy at large.
The concept of strategic alternative plan for salaries stemmed from the need to ensure justice for the civil servants and improve productivity of the institutions, the minister explained. "These targets are unlikely to come true if the treatment emphasizes exclusively on salaries without gauging the performance in a modern way that could encourage employees to improve their skills," Al-Hajri pointed out.
He cautioned against any new plan that might discourage employees from joining the private sector which has already suffered from shortage in young labor force due to long working hours and criterions of measuring the performance of workers.
He added that the conceived strategic alternative plan aims not to add strains on the state finances or the ability of the government to launch new costly projects in such areas as housing, tourism and transport. (end) oas.gb.