"Affairs" to Cooperatives: Under the Reign of Firmness, No One Is Above the Law
- Issa: Dissolve or dismiss cooperative association boards upon confirmation of serious violations
- The new regulation will mark a qualitative leap in services following the completion of the electronic platform
- Al-Jalal: We will continue conducting inspection rounds on cooperatives across various governorates
Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Sayed Issa, affirmed that cooperative associations represent vital economic and social institutions serving shareholders and local residents, emphasizing that Kuwait is under an era of firmness and the equal application of the law to all.
This statement came during a joint inspection tour conducted by the Ministry of Social Affairs in coordination with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition at the Al-Qadisiya Cooperative Association. Issa clarified that the ministry continues to monitor the operations of cooperative associations and exercise financial and administrative oversight, in coordination with relevant government entities. He noted that Al-Qadisiya Association was selected randomly, and upcoming rounds will cover several associations in different areas.
He explained that the inspection covered warehouses, the mechanism for receiving and delivering food materials, and storage methods, in addition to monitoring allowances and returns, including various food items available at the association. He stressed that the ministry works in coordination with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition to ensure food safety and compliance with health requirements.
Issa further stated that the Ministry of Social Affairs also monitors the financial and administrative aspects of cooperative associations, highlighting the existence of an electronic link with the associations that allows the ministry to access reports related to financial, administrative, and strategic inventory matters.
He added that based on reports, complaints, and the findings of inspectors stationed at the associations, audit committees are formed to verify any violations. If serious financial or administrative violations are discovered, necessary legal measures are taken, which may include dismissing or dissolving the boards of directors and appointing new boards by the ministry to correct the association’s course of action. He emphasized, “We are in an era of firmness and the rule of law, as association funds belong to the shareholders, and associations represent important economic and social institutions serving shareholders and local residents. No one is above the law.”
He confirmed that the law would be applied to everyone without exception, noting that the new Regulation No. 196 of 2026 will bring about a qualitative leap in services following the completion of the electronic platform, positively impacting citizens, traders, and investors.
For his part, Dr. Saud Al-Jalal, Director General of Inspection and Supervision Affairs at the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, explained that the tour aims to strengthen cooperation between the authority and the Ministry of Social Affairs, with the goal of ensuring the safety of food materials and their storage and preservation methods.
Al-Jalal stated that inspection teams examined the association’s warehouses, storage and preservation mechanisms, and the allowance area, to ensure it is isolated from safe food materials, thereby safeguarding food product safety. He pointed out that the authority continues to conduct inspection rounds on cooperative associations across various governorates around the clock, with ongoing coordination to carry out joint inspections at other associations in the coming period.
He confirmed that the current tour resulted in the recording of several observations, directing the association’s management to address them. He noted that the authority’s teams continue to monitor compliance with health requirements.
Al-Jalal called on consumers to report any violations or observations regarding food safety to the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition via the hotline or through the “Tawasol” platform, emphasizing the swift response to reports and the taking of necessary measures.
