Egypt’s Cabinet approves number of decrees including WB financing, prisoners' pardoning

CAIRO, 29 April 2020: Egypt's Cabinet approved, Wednesday, proceeding with the measures needed to obtain concessional financing from the World Bank (WB) to help support the country’s comprehensive health insurance system.

The Cabinet explained during a video conference meeting, that the decision comes in light of the bank’s approval on increasing the value of its funding for Egypt to $400 million, up from $250 million.

The move is meant to fund the subscriptions of the poor registering in the comprehensive health insurance system and rehabilitate infrastructure in the governorates where the new system will be applied.

During the meeting, Prime minster Mostafa Madbouli issued a decree stipulating that Saturday, May 2, will be a day off on the occasion of Labor Day.

Under the decree, Saturday will be taken instead of Friday, May 1 as a fully paid vacation for employees of ministries, governmental and public institutions as well as public and private sectors.

Madbouli also sent a cable of greetings to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on the occasion of Labor Day.

In the cable, Madbouli pledged that the government will exert every effort to continue the development track and provide the Egyptians with a decent life and a prosperous future.

As part of the decrees that were approved during the weekly meeting, the government approved pardoning some inmates on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which is set to start on May 24.

Pardoning prisoners on special occasions including religious and national holidays is a commonly known decision. According to the constitution, the president has the right to issue pardons for convicted prisoners after consulting with the Cabinet. However, the perpetrators of certain crimes are not eligible for pardon. These crimes comprise arms trafficking, terrorism, drug trafficking of more than 10 kilograms, “heroin” trade regardless of the quantity, and revenge killing.

On Saturday, a total of 4,011 prisoners were released on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day, according to the Ministry of Interior.