Presidential initiatives answer to demands of social solidarity

CAIRO – 26 June 2021: Multiple presidential initiatives have contributed significantly to improving the quality of life of Egyptians and making huge changes in the reality of citizens.

According to the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies (ECSS), the presidential attention to social justice is part of “the new republic” and turning the state into one that conforms to the International Covenant of 1966 on economic and social rights through programs that provide these rights to all citizens without discrimination.

A study by ECSS listed several initiatives and laws that were launched to answer to the social justice demand made by Egyptians in 2011 and again in 2013. These initiatives have entrenched the concept of social justice, ECSS said.

- Takaful & Karama (solidarity and dignity)

A total of 3.6 million people were enrolled in the monetary subsidy program by November 2020. Applicants must not be having children aged above 18 or not enrolled in schools, if below that age. Applicants must present their electricity bills as well as medical certificates. For women, they must present documents showing they are widowed or divorced.

Non-eligible citizens are those who own more than 0.5 feddan of agricultural land, rent more than one feddan of agricultural land, own residential units other than their residence, own one or more shops, own more than three cattle, have social insurance, or receive a monthly salary worth more than LE1,600 for a family composed of four members.

- Haya Karima (decent life)

On January 2, 2019, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi launched an initiative aiming to improve the standards of life for the neediest community groups across the state and raise the level of efficiency of the daily services in villages. The initiative witnesses a unique collaboration between ministries, private sector, and the civil society to achieve its objective.

That includes investing in human capital, developing infrastructure services, raising the quality of human development services, and economic development.

- 100 million Healthy Lives

The initiative, launched to eliminate Hepatitis C and detect non-communicable diseases, has saved millions of lives during the coronavirus pandemic, said Minister of Health Hala Zayed on April 8. The waiting list of critical surgeries have been beaten. Millions of women have been screened for breast cancer as part of the initiative.

- Law 104 on tax justice was issued in 2015.

- Law 242 of 2011 was issued to set maximum and minimum wages.

- Law 67 the value-added tax was issued in 2016.

- Law 81 on civil service was issued in 2016.

- Law 60 was issued in 2016 to increase pension and amend some social insurance laws.

- Comprehensive health insurance law no. 2 of 2018 is built on social solidarity that covers all citizens enrolled, where the state bears the expenses of those who cannot based on a decree by the prime minister specifying the exemption controls.