"Ministry of Social Affairs": Plans to appoint temporary boards of directors for cooperatives

Faisal Mutair – The Ministry of Social Affairs is moving, as part of the work plan of the committee reviewing qualified candidates for appointment in cooperative societies and unions, to nominate members to form temporary boards of directors consisting of at least five members, instead of appointing temporary managers in the societies, within the next 60 days.

A senior source told Al-Qabas: “The committee, chaired by the Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs and Cooperative Affairs, and acting as the Director General of the Department of Cooperative Affairs, is currently preparing to hold its first meeting to study and evaluate candidates for appointment in cases where the law permits, in accordance with the standards and regulations set out in Ministerial Decision No. 314 of 2026.”

The source clarified that the committee’s general approach will be to nominate temporary boards of directors of at least five members instead of individual managers, thereby strengthening collective management of the societies and preventing any single individual from making decisions unilaterally. The source noted that this approach is still under consideration and has not yet been finalized.

He added that the 60-day period pertains to the managers currently appointed, as the ministry will seek to replace them with temporary boards of directors constituted in accordance with the legal quorum, in addition to appointing boards for societies whose boards of directors are expected to be dissolved.