Monday 17 April paid day off for employees of Egypt's public, private sectors on Sham El-Nessim

CAIRO - 11 April 2023: Manpower Minister Hassan Shehata announced Tuesday that next Monday will be considered a paid day off for private sector employees and civil servants, alike, on the occasion of Sham El-Nessim.

It remains up to employers, however, to choose not to give that day off to employees due to working conditions, the minister said, noting that in such case employees should receive twice their daily wages.

Shehata also extended greetings to Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Diocese on Easter, praising the unity of the Egyptian national fabric under the rule of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Early in April, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli issued a decision declaring Monday 17 April an official paid holiday for public sector workers on the occasion of Sham El-Nessim.

Madbouli's decisin applies to workers in ministries, government institutions, public agencies, local administration units, and public sector companies.

Also, The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced that the banks in the country will be off on the coming Sunday and Monday, 16-17 April, on the occasion of Easter and Sham El-Nessim holidays.

The Central Bank said that work in the banks nationwide will resume Tuesday morning.

Thousands of Egyptians annualy celebrate the Pharaonic festival of Sham El-Nessim that marks the beginning of spring in national parks and gardens.

The festival is related to the agricultural background of ancient Egyptians. The name Sham El-Nessim or (inhaling the breeze) is derived from the Coptic language, which was derived from the ancient Egyptian language. The original pronunciation is Tshom Ni Tshom, which means garden meadows.

MENA contributed to the reporting.