KUWAIT: An Amiri decree was issued on Sunday launching Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority to replace the Civil Aviation Directorate as an independent body that will have full control over the civil aviation sector and related affairs. Chairman of the Authority Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Sabah said the law is in line with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization and other related regional organizations. The new law was issued 65 years after issuing two civil aviation laws that regulate civil aviation and aviation accidents, Sheikh Humoud said.

He added the new law will boost the independence of the civil aviation sector and keep pace with the best international practices in regulating and managing the civil aviation sector. The law will also enable the civil aviation sector to apply the highest international standards toward a safe and sustainable aviation sector, he said. Articles of the new law consider the Chicago Convention, the convention on international civil aviation, its annexes and amendments, and related international and regional agreements, as an integral part of the law. Under the law, the Authority will have full control of all civil airports, landing of aircraft, civil aviation safety and other related affairs.

In the meantime, the interior ministry on Sunday called on thousands of women who were stripped of their Kuwaiti citizenship to speed up procedures to reclaim their original nationality from their embassies. The ministry recalled in a statement that the last date for obtaining their old citizenship or at least starting the procedures for that, is August 31, and threatened those who fail to comply risk losing a number of features given to them by the state after losing their citizenship.

Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of thousands of foreign women who were naturalized after getting married to Kuwaiti husbands. The government said it will provide them with certain advantages like keeping their government jobs, pensions and others if they obtain their original nationality from their embassies. Meanwhile, amendments to the penal code were issued on Sunday stating that officials who obstruct or refuse to apply final court verdicts risk a jail term of up to two years and a fine not exceeding KD 20,000, toughening the penalty against officials who reject to implement court rulings.

KUWAIT: Driven by its commitment to fostering a supportive work environment and leading positive change in Kuwait’s banking sector, Burgan Bank hosted an Emotional Aid workshop, in collaboration with Anara, at its head office. The workshop was delivered by Dr Kim Dillen, a licensed neuropsychologist with extensive experience in mental health care, brain imaging, and neuropsychological assessment, to select senior staff members across various departments, equipping them with the necessary skills to become Burgan Bank’s trusted Emotional Wellness Champions. This initiative, which was widely met with enthusiasm across the bank’s different departments, is part of an expansive program guided by its mission to become an employer of choice and maintain its status as a Great Place to Work.

“Burgan Bank extends its ongoing commitment to instilling mental health as a fundamental pillar of its corporate work culture. Prioritizing our employees’ health and safety stems from our belief that a balanced environment is a catalyst for growth and creativity,” said Zahra Boarki, Senior Manager – Internal Communication at Burgan Bank.

Zahra Boarki

She added: “We are committed to maintaining a robust series of internal events and activities that seek to enrich all aspects of our employees’ lives, bolstering their physical and mental wellbeing at all times. This comes as part of the bank’s strategy to foster flexible and sustainable work environment standards, focused on achieving a work-life balance and becoming the employer of Choice Our mission is to an employer of choice that prioritize employee development: emotionally, mentally and professionally.”

The Emotional Aid workshop marks a significant step forward in promoting employee wellness and setting a new standard for employee care at Burgan Bank. To ensure its sustainability, the initiative follows a top-down design, which prepares managers and equips them with the necessary knowledge and tools to respond adequately to their team’s need for personal as well as professional support and guidance.

As a bank that is “Driven by You”, Burgan Bank recognizes that fulfillment is key to outstanding performance and innovation, thus sparing no effort to meet its employees’ diverse needs for holistic personal and professional growth, beginning with mental, physical and emotional wellness. It is worth noting that Burgan Bank launched numerous activities and programs to support employees’ health and well-being, aiming to create a safe, comfortable and empowering work environment, this includes an internal clinic, a mother’s room for new moms, reduced working hours throughout the week, as well as paid leave options such as self-care days leave, paternity leave, marriage leave and birthday leave. The bank also launched various programs to support employee talents and encourage them to be part of its strategy.