LOCALARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MAY 7, 2018

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Dr Walid Al-Shuaib represents Awqaf minister at the event

His Highness the Amir hosts top offi cials

Kuwait’s ambassador ‘inaugurates’mosque, Islamic center in Canberra

KUWAIT CITY, May 6, (KUNA): The State of Kuwait Ambassador to Australia, Najeeb Al-Bader, has inaugurated Sabah Al-Ahmed Mas-jid (Mosque) and Islamic Education Centre in Can-berra. Inauguration cere-mony was attended by Dr Walid Al-Shuaib, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Af-fairs for the Holy Quran and Islamic Studies, rep-resenting Minister of Jus-tice and Islamic Affairs Dr Fahd Al-Afasi.

Also present were Chris Crewther MP, Member for Dunk-ley — Victoria, representing Prime Minister of the Common-wealth of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, alongside representa-tives from ACT Government, heads of diplomatic missions and Islamic Organisations and a large crowd.

Ambassador Bader delivered a speech noting that complex construc-tion reflects depth of the friendly bi-lateral relationship between the State of Kuwait and Australia.

He noted that this blessed proj-ect was accomplished through the productive cooperation between the Embassy of the State of Kuwait and Canberra Islamic Centre, and by means of the generous contribu-tion of the Council of Ministers of the State of Kuwait with a value of about two million Australian dol-lars.

Furthermore, he expressed deep satisfaction that collaborative hard work has contributed towards finish-ing all construction work on time, noting that the contract of this Islam-ic edifice was signed in April, 2016. He emphasised that the mosque, along with the center, was named after the Amir of wisdom and leader of humanitarian work, His High-ness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

GuidanceHe explained that as a result of His

Highness’s policies and guidance in taking outstanding generous initia-tives, His Highness was recognized as a great humanitarian leader “of our world, and Kuwait has obtained prominence among the countries of the world in the last 10 years as a “centre of global humanitarian ac-tion”.

Hence, the Ambassador expressed his hopes that this project will con-tribute further towards highlighting the constructive and positive efforts of the State of Kuwait in relation to leading international humanitarian initiatives and humanitarian proj-ects.

Al-Bader clarified that Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Canberra has supervised all the phases of the proj-ect construction.

He explained that it was launched in response to a request from Can-berra Islamic Centre due to urgent need for a mosque and a centre that provide educational and religious services to the Muslim community in Canberra, which is about 10,000 Muslims.

He also noted that naming this Is-lamic edifice after His Highness the Amir reflects genuine recognition of the Muslim community to the His Highness’ humanitarian work around the world.

The ambassador stressed in his address that the contribution of the Government of the State of Kuwait to Canberra Islamic Centre intend-ed to help and empower members of the Muslim community to inte-grate into the Australian society, aimed at spreading the message of Islam, embodied in moderation and tolerance and promoting interre-ligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and constructive co-operation.

He added that the establishment of this masjid comes as a part of the efforts of the State of Kuwait to clarify and correct stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam through the most powerful method which is spreading knowledge as it eradicate ignorance and prejudice.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim on Sunday at Seif

Palace. His Highness the Amir also received His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. (KUNA)

KUNA photosHis Highness the Amir with His Highness the Crown Prince, Speaker Al-Ghanim (center) and His Highness the Prime Minister.

HH the Amir with the minister of defense.

Photos by Bassam Abu ShanabOn the occasion of the National Day of Republic of Poland commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of May 3, 1791 the Ambassador Pawel Lechowicz held a reception on May 3 at Marina Hotel, Kuwait. A large number of Diplomatic Corps, Kuwaiti offi cials, Polish community members in Kuwait and others attended.

Above: Some photos from the reception.

Achievements eyed

Top offi cials in Oilexpected to retireKUWAIT CITY, May 6: Senior officials in the oil industry are expected to gradually retire over the next few months, either because they have reached the retirement age, of their own free will or because of the expiry of their contracts, reports Al-Rai daily.

Meanwhile, the oil sources said between 10 and 15 senior officers are subjected to assessment of their performance, however in all cases they have made real achievements and this has been acknowledged by the boards of oil companies, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the Supreme Petroleum Council.

However, the sources pointed out their future depend on the volume of achievements during their tenure and not by their rhetoric speeches and state-ments. This is because the senior officials are chosen to manage the most vital and the biggest sector on which the economy of the entire state depends.

The sources warned of the serious consequences referring to some disgruntled officials who are affect-ed by decisions or their demands for promotions were not met.

Driving licence

My colleague entered Kuwait on company visa 18. He later shifted to factory visa and was there for 4 years. Can he transfer to com-pany visa again?

What is the procedure?

Name withheldAnswer: Since he fi rst entered

Kuwait on company visa (18) but later transferred to factory visa, we think your friend may have no problem in shifting back to com-pany visa. However, let us sound a note of caution here. From experi-ence, there have been occasions where two different offi cials give different interpretations of a law. With this at the back of your mind you should not be surprised if your colleague’s transfer request is re-jected or accepted. As to the pro-cedure to be followed, leave that to the company mandoub as he is the one authorized to handle issues concerning workers at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and at the Immigration Department.

I came to Kuwait as a teacher six months ago, with a salary of KD 400. Now I want to change my profession to marketing personnel. I obtained a licence in between (based on my valid Muscat licence). Now, if I change my profession, will may licence be invalid?

Please answer the query, so I can take a decision on switching the profession.

Name withheldAnswer: If you obtained your

Kuwaiti driving licence on the ba-sis of your valid Muscat licence alone, we can dare say that you will have no problem if you switch your designation. On the other hand if other factors were taken into con-sideration by virtue of your being a teacher, then we are afraid you will have diffi culties in keeping your li-cence with a switch in designation.

Under the Kuwait Law, to quali-fy to apply for a driving licence you should satisfy 3 conditions:

1. Have a university degree2. Earn at least KD 600 a month3. Must have been a resident of

Kuwait for at least two years at the time of application.

You may however receive exemp-tion from meeting any or all of these conditions depending on your profes-sion of which teaching is one of the professions that qualifi es for exemption.

I would simply like to inquire how to go about posting a ques-tion in the ‘Legal Clinic’ part of the website. I have registered an ac-count in the webmaster, however the option to request for question is not visible anywhere within the ‘Legal Clinic’ page.

I have sensitive matter that re-quires some insight and I believe only Arab Times would be reputed enough to have an answer.

Your guidance in the matter would be very much appreciated.

Thank you for your cooperation and time.

Name withheldAnswer: We will take up the issue

with the webmaster to fi nd a solution to that but until that is done you can still go ahead and send your sensitive matter to arabtimes@arabtimeson-line.com and we will see how best we can handle it. However be advised that whatever you send to us will be published in the Arab Times for all to see and read. We do not send answers to individuals privately but we guar-antee the anonymity of questioners if

they desire so.

I would like to inquire about the new and recent procedure for fam-ily visa for my baby born in India; she is 1 year 6 months now. When she was born my husband’s sal-ary was not KD 450, now in his new work permit he has KD 450 salary and I have KD 250 and we both are under article 18; many of my friends are confusing me that there are some new proce-dures added in ministry like birth certifi cate attestation and need to be more than KD 450 above etc, please clear my below details.

1. Procedure and documents needed

2. Documents to be attested3. How long it takes time will

take once apply4. How much cost?Please note I brought her un-

der visit visa 2 times for 3 months each under my name; now I need to apply for family visa under my husband.

Name withheldAnswer: KD 450 is the mini-

mum monthly salary required to be able to sponsor your immediate family members on dependent visa. Forget therefore about what your friends are telling you and go ahead and apply for the visa for your baby at the Immigration Department in your area and attach the following documents to the application.

1. Copy of the child’s passport2. Copy of the child’s birth cer-

tifi cate which must be attested by your country’s ministry of foreign affairs or your embassy in Kuwait and the Kuwait Foreign Ministry annex in Shuwaikh.

3. An affi davit attested by your embassy in Kuwait and the Kuwait Foreign Ministry showing your re-altion with the person you wish to bring to Kuwait.

4. Marrage certifi cate attested as in 2 above.

5. Your work permit (showing a monthly salary of at least KD 450).

6. Copies of your and your wife’s civil IDs. If you can supply all these documents, your will have no diffi cul-ties in getting the visa for your child.

I’m an Indian and have an offer letter to work as deputy fi nance manager. I’m an MBA holder and certifi cates are attested.

My question is: Is it mandatory to work for three years since I’m a di-rect recruit from India even if com-pany is ready to give a release? Offer letter says I have to compen-sate company if I resign within a year. My offer is only KD 450.

Your advise is highly appreci-ated.

Name withheldAnswer: As a direct recruit from

India or any other country, the La-bour Law makes it mandatory for you to work three years for the spon-sor before you can be entitled for a release. However if the sponsor so desires, he/she can give you a re-lease at any point in time within the 3-year mandatory period. In order not to face suspicion and questioning of visa trading what most ‘no-objection’ sponsors do is that they let you work for them for at least one year before granting you a release.

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The Arab Times invites ques-tions on all aspects of Kuwaiti law. If you face a problem, or need spe-cific advice on any legal matter, from commercial and investment law to divorce and labour, send questions to the Managing Editor, Arab Times, P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait, or Fax to 24818267. E-mail: arabtimes@arabtimeson-line.com

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