By Faten Omar
KUWAIT: The private education department of the ministry of education sent an official letter asking schools that have been reported for violations to send records of their payrolls to confirm that all teachers have received their full wages. The letter sent by Private Education Department Director Sanad Al-Mutairi was based on complaints the department received against some schools.
The letter reads: "Implementation of the circular issued by the ministry of education represented by the private education department on April 1, 2020 regarding commitment to pay the wages of workers in private schools during the suspension according to the Cabinet decision due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In light of the complaints received by the general administration of private education from a number of employees at private schools regarding failure to pay their salaries for March 2020, the general administration of private education has requested the payrolls for the month of March from private schools to review and audit in preparation for taking the necessary legal actions against the schools that are proven to be in violation, in coordination with the relevant authorities (financial department of the ministry of education/Public Authority for Manpower)."
The ministry of education issued on April 2, 2020 a circular, according to law no. 6 of 2010, giving the ministry authority to take legal, financial and administrative measures if private schools failed to pay wages to their employees. The ministry's private education sector will take legal action against any school failing to pay the wages of its employees.
The circular affirmed that the schools are obligated to pay employees their wages according to their work contracts during the period of suspension in the private schools, including their entitlement to salaries during the summer break.
On April 5, the private education department launched a website (https://privateeducationkw.com/cor2/) to receive any complaints or inquiries from schools, parents, or teachers. Regarding failure to pay salaries, the department noted that the complaint must be filed seven days after the actual date of payment.
Hundreds of expatriate teachers in Kuwait contacted Kuwait Times following the closure of schools to report failure of their schools to pay wages or to note that schools were cutting salaries or paying late. Kuwait Times previously reported that all private schools are required to pay teachers through August as per the terms of their contracts.