The Ministry of Social Affairs launched the Kuwaitization of supply branch manager positions in consumer cooperative societies on July 28 according to a statement distributed by KUNA. Minister of Social Affairs Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah issued directives to the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies to begin filling the roles immediately with qualified Kuwaiti employees already working in the societies. The ministry said the policy follows state and Cabinet decisions on replacement and Kuwaitization reflecting a commitment to expand citizen participation in the cooperative sector. Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah’s instructions also aim to place nationals in supervisory and support positions to raise institutional performance across the network.
According to the circular issued by the General Directorate of Cooperative Affairs under the ministry the supply branch manager post may not be assigned to a non-Kuwaiti whenever a qualified Kuwaiti candidate exists. Eligible Kuwaiti staff must receive priority throughout the nomination and appointment procedures to align with broader national employment goals. The ministry’s announcement stressed that this approach supports ongoing efforts to qualify citizens for key operational responsibilities while maintaining service standards in consumer cooperatives.
Cooperative societies unable to identify a suitable Kuwaiti candidate are required to notify the ministry and provide detailed reasons for the gap. The ministry will then coordinate with relevant authorities to locate and supply qualified national personnel ensuring policy objectives are met without delay. This notification requirement forms a core enforcement mechanism in the July 28 directive that the union is now implementing through its follow-up actions.
The Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies responded with its own circular on August 18 setting a 30-day deadline from issuance for boards of directors to complete the necessary measures and report back. The union reiterated that qualified Kuwaiti nationals must be prioritized in line with the state’s direction to increase citizen employment in the cooperative sector. Local coverage indicated the union’s instructions apply directly to support staff positions and call for immediate compliance to avoid recruitment of expatriates where Kuwaitis meet the job criteria.
The Kuwaitization drive targets supply branch manager roles in 12 consumer cooperative societies according to follow-up reporting by Times Kuwait. These societies form a significant part of Kuwait’s retail and distribution network supplying essential goods to communities nationwide. The ministry’s assessment found that placing Kuwaitis in these management posts will contribute to improved oversight and operational effectiveness within the cooperative framework.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has framed the initiative as part of sustained government policy to elevate national workforce involvement in key economic segments. Earlier ministry statements noted that the cooperative sector offers opportunities for citizens to develop skills in supervisory functions that support long-term institutional growth. Implementation of the 30-day timeline will allow authorities to track progress and address any shortfalls in candidate availability through targeted coordination.
