"Ministry of Social Affairs" forms committee to review candidates eligible for appointment at "Cooperatives"

Faisal Mutair – The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dr. Khalid Al-Ajmi, issued a decision to form a committee to review the qualifications of candidates for appointment in cooperative societies and federations. This followed the issuance of Ministerial Decision No. 314 of 2026 regarding the conditions and regulations for selecting, appointing, and monitoring the performance of appointed members, temporary managers, and temporary boards of directors in cooperative societies and federations. The decision stipulated the formation of the committee, headed by the Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs and Cooperative Affairs, with nine members representing various sectors within the ministry.

The committee’s mandate includes studying and evaluating candidates for appointment in cooperative societies and federations in cases where the law permits appointment, in accordance with the standards and regulations outlined in the ministerial decision. The committee is also responsible for establishing and periodically updating an electronic database of qualified candidates, receiving and reviewing their names, curricula vitae, and supporting documents, verifying that each candidate meets the necessary legal and administrative requirements, and ranking them according to the selection criteria specified in the ministerial decision.

Additionally, the committee is tasked with submitting an updated list of qualified candidates every three months, evaluating the performance of previously appointed individuals, and utilizing the evaluation results in future nominations. However, inclusion in the database does not confer any right to appointment.

In another development, the Ministry of Social Affairs, represented by the Cooperative Sector, is continuing its meetings in coordination with several government entities to draft a regulation governing the mechanisms, aspects, and items for disbursing the 5 percent allocated to governorates by cooperative societies, thereby enhancing their role in meeting the needs of their respective areas.

A senior source told Al-Qabas that discussions are being held in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Governorates Affairs Department and the Financial Affairs Department, as well as the Ministries of Social Affairs and Finance, and the Department of Legal Opinion and Legislation.

The source clarified that the proposed regulation aims to establish a clear framework for disbursements, supporting the governorates’ role in delivering services and projects directed at citizens. He noted that the proposals under consideration are still being studied and discussed and have not yet been approved in their final form.

He added that the support allocated to governorates is set at 5 percent annually from the social services budget line.