Egypt only country in world dedicating grants to irregular workers during COVID-19

CAIRO – 29 April 2021: Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj stated Wednesday in meeting with media personnel that Egypt is the only country in the world that dedicated a budget for granting monetary subsidies to irregular workers.

In previous statements, the minister noted that the number of irregular workers in Egypt is 11.8 million contributing by 40 percent in the country's GDP. Those are concentrated in the sectors of transportation, constructions, agriculture, fishing, baking, and pedestrian vendors.

However, only 2.1 million are registered at the ministry, and those received six batches of monetary subsidies. Each is worth LE500 and the latest was disbursed in March. That initiative also targeted irregular workers in the tourism sector, which was hit badly worldwide.  

Earlier this month, the ministries of social solidarity and planning signed an MoU worth LE570 to support that social segment by offering vocational training and employment services, establishing enterprises producing food, animal and intermediate goods, and creating rotating funds to finance craft and retail businesses.

The MoU targets 16 governorates and will be accomplished over two phases. The first consists of the five governorates with the largest number of irregular workers benefiting 30,000 families.