The medical staff were not destined to rejoice the front rows’ reward, which had not yet been disbursed until the Civil Service Bureau responded to the Ministry of Health, that doctors’ periodic leave balance could not be deported, consequently, this has caused a great disappointment. Instead, the Bureau justified its response as it is due to the provisions of the decree regarding the civil Service system, which allows the employee to keep the balance of his periodic leaves that are not benefitted from only during five years
There is no doubt that the medical teams made tremendous efforts in confronting the emerging Coronavirus pandemic continuously for over a year in which they have represented the most wonderful examples of sacrifice and loyalty. We may recall here the position of His Highness the Emir of The State of Kuwait, the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may his soul rest in peace, who cherished his sons and daughters working within the teams tasked with fighting the Coronavirus, as His Highness affirmed that those work in the front rows offering the utmost sacrifices are obligated to perform manifestations of moral honor in gratefulness of their efforts
Therefore, I think it is fair to maintain the entitlements of the front row staff according to their distinguished hard work by honoring them morally and financially, and in my opinion, based on my modest experience in the field of financial control, the matter does not require a legislative amendment rather than issuing executive decisions that do justice to the medical staff. Furthermore, I think that there are several alternatives in this regard, and they are as follows, arranged according to the ease of implementation procedures
The first alternative: According to the authorization granted to the Minister of Health to work on all the powers established for the Civil Service Council and the Civil Service Bureau by Article 80 of Law No. (7) of 2020 regarding the practice of the profession of medicine and allied professions, the minister can issue executive decisions to maintain doctors’ benefits, in this case, the law here is in a higher rank than the decree, and this is what is argued by several specialists
The second alternative: Compensation for those who will be negatively affected by not deporting their balance of periodical leave financially in the amount equivalent to the value of the lost balance of their leaves with a financial reward for not having a periodic leave due to the circumstances of the Corona pandemic, through the activation of Article 19 of Decree-Law No. (15) of 1979 regarding The civil service, which allows the Civil Service Bureau to propose to the Civil Service Board to approve financial incentives under the requirements of the nature of work in the government agency
The third alternative: Issuing a decision by the Council of Ministers according to its terms of reference for issuing exceptional decisions regarding financial rewards, to compensate those who will be affected by the failure to transfer the balance of their periodic leaves financially in return for not having a periodic leave due to the circumstances of the Corona pandemic, noting that the Council is the one who previously issued the decision to grant rewards for the front rows
The fourth alternative (a radical solution): is an initiative by the Civil Service Bureau requesting to amend Article 40 of the decree issued on 4/4/1979 in the matter of the civil service system, to allow the employee to compensate the balance of his vacations that are forfeited if he does not benefit from them, not exceeding (90) a day throughout his service period, similar to what is decided for some financial cadres (the Audit Bureau – the Public Authority for Combating Corruption – the Kuwaiti Investigation Unit – the Financial Controllers Authority), to achieve justice among state employees in this regard
In conclusion … An expression of great gratitude, respect, and appreciation is dedicated to our white army for what they have done to protect us from this pandemic … We ask God the Almighty to end this epidemic
Bader alhammad 