Before introducing my latest topic, I'd like to send out a Happy National & Liberation Day to all Kuwaitis and to all who consider Kuwait their home.
As the topic of this article suggests, and as many people in the GCC have noticed in the past few months there has been a steady increase in costs in the region. Some people suggest it is due to the dollar falling and the rising cost of living.
As such, the Kuwaiti government and parliament are planning to increase all Kuwaiti and Non-Kuwaiti salaries to help with this inflation. Of course, I am very happy and proud they have come to this decision. I know a lot of families who DON'T have loans, and outstanding bills who are still suffering because of this inflation.
That said, I was flipping through a Kuwaiti newspaper (URL:http://www.alqabas.com.kw/Final/NewspaperWebsite/NewspaperPublic/ArticlePage.aspx?ArticleID=364209 ) the other day and on the cover there was an article stating that Kuwait's Finance Minister has declared that Kuwaiti salaries are the highest in the GCC. I was shocked, because I know for a fact that my friends in the GCC make more money than I do regardless of experience or not. The Finance Minister announced that the information he has provided was received from Kuwait's Civil Service Commission.
I especially liked the part when the Finance Minister announced that Kuwaiti civilians receive many complimentary services as well as services that are partly supported by the country, that we should work hard, and by so doing, our country will reep the benefits.
I hope the Finance minister was only talking about the Kuwaiti males in this country, because as far as I know, single or married Kuwaiti females only benefit from free health care (which I would NEVER use unless as an emergency), free education for their kids, and the extra $665 - $840 (depends on their salary) they get a month from the government.
Whereas, males (it differentiates from single to married but I am going to list all their benefits) get the same $665-$840 range, plus an additional x number of dollars for being married, plus x number of dollars for rent, plus $14,000 if they marry a Kuwaiti female (half of which is a gift and the othe rhalf an interst free loan), $175,000 interest free loan if they want to buy a house, plus free education for their kids, and on and on and on.
I for one do not use the free health care beneft unless in emergencies, because of several reasons but mainly because of their lack of efficiency and organization. I'm single so I do not benefit from the free education. In total, the only benefit I get is the extra $665/month.
In contrast, Bayt.com also released a study declaring UAE and Qatari employees are the highest paid out of all GCC countries. Bayt.com created an online survey in conjunction with market research specialists YouGovSiraj, and polled 15,000 employees in the six GCC countries across 20 industry sectors, including automotive, finance, advertising, IT and pharmaceuticals.
For more information on the study and the study itself click on the link below:
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20080226033039/lok033000080226?weeklynewslettertext
I also know of a Kuwaiti company that did a survey of GCC salaries a couple of years back, and noticed that their staff were being paid far less than the average GCC employee in their sector. As a result, they increased all employee salaries as they believed appropriate.
With both sides provided, I ask you, who are we supposed to believe? If you look at Bayt.com's survey you might be inclined to not support either just as I have. I'm going with my gut instinct, which is that Kuwaiti are not the highest paid in the GCC. I would also trust in Bayt.com's results more than I would trust the Kuwait's Civil Service Commission, especially since the Finance Minister did not specifically say the information provided was up to date. The information could have been months or even years old.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Segregation Laws – Intaw Shakoo?
Growing up in a private, un-segregated school may have its advantages and disadvantages; although I can not think of a single feasible disadvantage right now. During my 14 years at Bayan Bilingual School I gained more brothers and sisters than I could have ever imagined. I felt safe, and loved. As we grew up, some of my friends transferred to public school (at the time there were no separate gender private schools), because their parents thought that at a certain age boys and girls should not be associating freely. At the time, I argued that if a parent segregates their child now, in the future, when they start to work they will have to re-associate themselves with the male/female gender anyway! In the end I came to terms with it and moved on.
After I graduated college and came home I found out that a new law had passed segregating students at Kuwait University. Again, I made the same argument, but who would listen to a 21 year old fresh graduate. Nowadays though, I hear that Parliament is planning on passing a law requesting segregation in private schools and universities as well. All I can say to this is, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Who do you think you are? PRIVATE does not mean public and please feel free to change whatever you want whenever you feel like it. Now, I am not a parent yet, but if I was, as I’m sure many will side with me on this issue I would repeat the question Intaw Shakoo (meaning who are you to decide)? I am the parent. I am the one who decides where and with whom my son or daughter studies. I decide if they can go on a mixed field trip. I decide if they should study drama, art, music, or religion. I decide if they can exercise together NOT Parliament, and certainly NOT the Ministry of Education. No one should have the right to tell me how to raise my child. Unless I am physically abusing my child (God Forbid), stay away from my private life.
Separate from the fact that I think this law is absurd; it is also costing the schools and students time and money. MP Ali Fahad Al-Rashed has stated that students are graduating at different times due to problems with segregated classes, as well as an increase in costs for new buildings. Who is going to pay for the changes that have to be made at Kuwait University and the other private schools and universities? Who is going to pay for the new building and the LAND that has to be bought? Let’s remove the idea that neither the universities can cough up that kind of money nor will the parents pay extra school fees to accommodate such a change with what economic inflation is these days. The next usual response will happen. A committee in Parliament will submit a budget to help out the universities. Parliament will argue the cost and it will be stalled for numerous years.
My response to all this mayhem is this. If you (meaning everyone FOR the segregation laws) want segregated universities, build your own. You don’t like the fact that there are mixed schools and universities, blame the Government for approving them in the first place and Parliament for letting it happen. DO NOT under any circumstances change your minds AFTER private citizens worked hard to maintain higher education for your children, or override a parent’s right to raise their child their own way. I repeat this statement to anyone wishing to overrule a parent’s wishes, intaw shako? I do not argue that times change, but I also do not think that changes should have a negative consequence. You may not like my topic of discussion, but I do believe in freedom of speech and speak I will.
After I graduated college and came home I found out that a new law had passed segregating students at Kuwait University. Again, I made the same argument, but who would listen to a 21 year old fresh graduate. Nowadays though, I hear that Parliament is planning on passing a law requesting segregation in private schools and universities as well. All I can say to this is, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Who do you think you are? PRIVATE does not mean public and please feel free to change whatever you want whenever you feel like it. Now, I am not a parent yet, but if I was, as I’m sure many will side with me on this issue I would repeat the question Intaw Shakoo (meaning who are you to decide)? I am the parent. I am the one who decides where and with whom my son or daughter studies. I decide if they can go on a mixed field trip. I decide if they should study drama, art, music, or religion. I decide if they can exercise together NOT Parliament, and certainly NOT the Ministry of Education. No one should have the right to tell me how to raise my child. Unless I am physically abusing my child (God Forbid), stay away from my private life.
Separate from the fact that I think this law is absurd; it is also costing the schools and students time and money. MP Ali Fahad Al-Rashed has stated that students are graduating at different times due to problems with segregated classes, as well as an increase in costs for new buildings. Who is going to pay for the changes that have to be made at Kuwait University and the other private schools and universities? Who is going to pay for the new building and the LAND that has to be bought? Let’s remove the idea that neither the universities can cough up that kind of money nor will the parents pay extra school fees to accommodate such a change with what economic inflation is these days. The next usual response will happen. A committee in Parliament will submit a budget to help out the universities. Parliament will argue the cost and it will be stalled for numerous years.
My response to all this mayhem is this. If you (meaning everyone FOR the segregation laws) want segregated universities, build your own. You don’t like the fact that there are mixed schools and universities, blame the Government for approving them in the first place and Parliament for letting it happen. DO NOT under any circumstances change your minds AFTER private citizens worked hard to maintain higher education for your children, or override a parent’s right to raise their child their own way. I repeat this statement to anyone wishing to overrule a parent’s wishes, intaw shako? I do not argue that times change, but I also do not think that changes should have a negative consequence. You may not like my topic of discussion, but I do believe in freedom of speech and speak I will.
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