Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Labor Minister Mufrej Al-Haqbani will discuss his ministry's policies with Shoura Council members on Tuesday and listen to their comments and observations. Haqbani said the remarks and recommendations to be made by the members would form the basis for the rectification of the ministry's policies. "I will be more than happy to answer queries of the members and will avail this opportunity to further deepen the ministry's partnership with the council," he said. Haqbani was sure his ministry would benefit from the council's experience to boost its work. The minister is expected to present to the council his ministry's present and future plans and will answer their questions on a number of labor issues. Haqbani wished that the council's session would be open before the media, which is a strategic partner of the ministry but said the decision was not in his hands but was the prerogative of the council's speaker. "The media is the ministry's channel for spreading awareness and presenting its policies and programs to the public," he said. Some members hinted at the possibility that the minister might be questioned about his constant objections to the council's recommendations concerning the issue of recruitment especially through other GCC countries. Fahd Bin Jumaa, deputy chairman of the council's economic committee, said the minister had always objected to the council's decisions, particularly on the question of recruitment. He recalled that when the council approved the labor agreement with Indonesia, the minister hastened to say recruitment from Indonesia was still on hold as if the council was ignorant of what was going on. "The strange thing is that the minister's objections come as soon as the council's decisions are issued without conducting a comprehensive study on their dimensions and impact," he said.
