KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah emphasized the need to protect the funds of cooperative society shareholders during a meeting with officials on Thursday.

In her address to the heads of cooperative societies, Al-Huwailah stressed the importance of taking all necessary measures to track violations or infractions that could lead to waste. She called for strict adherence to budgets, highlighting that no spending should occur outside the allocations approved by the general assembly and endorsed by the ministry.

Additionally, Al-Huwailah underlined the prohibition of organizing any festivals, including Ramadan promotional events, without a designated financial allocation in the budget and prior approval from the ministry.

Building on this, the minister addressed the importance of improving marketing strategies within societies. She encouraged the diversification of goods, better presentation, and price adjustments to enhance sales and increase revenues. Furthermore, she advocated for the support of national products, particularly local agricultural goods, urging co-op societies to purchase vegetables directly from producers without intermediaries. This, she said, would ensure better quality at reasonable prices for consumers.

On the topic of operational efficiency, Al-Huwailah emphasized the necessity of adhering to health and hygiene standards in order to avoid penalties. She also stressed the need to support the ministry’s efforts to organize cooperative labor and reduce marginal labor, ensuring all labor conditions remain legal. She reminded the audience of the ministry’s nationalization plan for jobs in cooperative societies, urging them to inform the ministry about any vacancies in supervisory positions, in support of the state’s efforts to create job opportunities for Kuwaitis.

Reflecting on the broader goals for the sector, Al-Huwailah pointed out that strengthening cooperation between the societies and the ministry is essential for its sustainability. “We are with you and support your efforts, and we look forward to more successes that positively impact the country and its citizens,” she stated. Al-Huwailah also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring cooperative societies adhere to the regulations governing their work. She urged cooperation with ministry inspectors and highlighted the need to address any violations identified by inspection teams or investigation committees.

Moreover, she reiterated the ministry’s support for the societies in assisting entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized business owners, recognizing them as a vital part of the national economy. Strengthening collaboration between the ministry and cooperative societies, she said, would contribute to achieving development goals and enhancing food and consumer security. — KUNA