The error by the Ministry of Education was discovered after about 7,000 employees were identified as qualifying for a promotion
Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has been left red faced after it included the names of deceased and retired staff in a list of people eligible for promotion, it was reported.
A source was quoted as saying the Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmad Al Mulaifi had asked for the list to be compiled by the Administrative Affairs Department before the end of March.
However, the Arab Times newspaper reported that after the head of the relevant department went on sudden leave the Minister Health Dr Ali Al Obaidi, who was stepping in, signed the decision when the list was not fully ready. It said the situation was further complicated when the director of human resources also went on holiday.
About 7,000 employees were identified as qualifying for a promotion, though it is unclear how many were later identified as deceased or retired.
“There were speculations the director may have travelled to avoid compiling the list and the matter paved way for the scandalous error,” one source quoted by the newspaper said.
He said it was not the first time the director had gone on leave during such a list, apparently taking leave when a list of employees who had served for over 35 years was being compiled.
However, he reportedly said the Service Department was also to blame after it had failed to remove the names of the retired employees on the pretext that the Civil Service Commission did not delete those names.
The situation is said to have created frustration across several departments.
Cradle to grave we've heard on several occasions. But even beyond???
What a pity,, Kuwait was the first country in the entire region to eatablish civil ID database back in 1980's. If a simple check agaisnt the civil ID database was made they could have found out who is dead and who is still alive.
You don't even need a civil ID database - you just need to know who's actually working at your company. Any other private sector firm will know who works for it...why is it so hard for the Kuwaiti public sector? How do they know whether these people are eligible for promotion anyway? Surely promotion is a reward for hard work and displaying particularly high levels of competence? How on earth can you recommend someone for a promotion when you clearly don't even know if they work for you?
This also begs another question - if the administration can't even work out who's still working....how many people are still on the payroll despite either being retired or dead?
Yes, the promotions come here automatically for all nationals whether they work or not. But it's such a gross violation of admin rules that the retired and dead people are still on the pay roll. It can only happen in circumstances where expats are neither promoted for their hard work nor have any say in their affairs. We live in an unthinkable society!
@Telco. In case you missed that major detail, the reported story took place in Kuwait not Dubai....Perhaps it would be a good idea to read the article first and then make a comment, what do you think?
That was one of the funniest comments I've read in a long time. Bravo!
This humourous news reminds me of a silly tale my grandparents told me as child. Back in the old days pensions were paid in cash monthly by the postman who would come to the house. People would prop up their dead relatives on the balcony for the postman to see and he would then leave the pension payment. After reading this report perhaps they were not telling me a tale but indeed were speaking the truth. If wondering why such simple things always go awry in this region, watch the final few scenes of Lawrence of Arabia after they have taken Damascus and the city goes up in flames.
-page-001.jpg?itok=5kC9f2UY)
