Egyptian Trade Union says President Sisi first to support irregular employment

CAIRO – 26 November 2020: The Egyptian Trade Union Federation, headed by Gibali Al-Maraghi, praised the new presidential mandates for launching a presidential fund to support irregular employment.

 

It aims to disburse a grant for that category during the period of income interruption, emergency economic conditions, or epidemics.

 

The fund also targets those who did not meet the eligibility rules for the Takaful and Karama social programs, and mothers after childbirth for a period of three months, with a maximum of three children.

 

This is in addition to coordinating with Nasser Social Bank to facilitate obtaining loans or productive assets, while providing training related to the field of production.

 

General Secretary of the union, Mohamed Wahballah, has said the decision, announced by Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el Kabbaj, is a continuation of the policies and ideas of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

 

He further praised the directives for disbursing the aid for irregular workers on the first of December, explaining that the Egyptian leader was the first to demand legalization of their status, providing them with all kinds of support, and caring for their health and social status, even before the emergence of the coronavirus.

 

According to the International Labor Organization, as of April 2020, it is estimated that almost 1.6 billion informal economy workers are significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a 60 per cent decline in their earnings.