CAIRO – 25 January 2021: The National Council for Women issued the second edition of its women policy tracker report that monitors the policies and measures that were taken by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The report included an analysis of the existing situation amid the government's efforts to combat the virus during the period from March 14 to April 6, 2020.
Below is the full text of the report
The COVID-19 outbreak has an impact on both men and women. However it impacts women in different ways. In Egypt, women make up around 42.4% of human doctors and 91.1% nursing staff of who are actually working for the Ministry of Health, in addition to 73.1% of nursing staff in hospitals and therapeutic facilities in the private sector are women . Women in the health sector are more likely to be exposed to the virus and dealing with enormous stress balancing paid and unpaid work roles. Furthermore, overwhelmed health services may limit access to family planning services and to contraceptives, potentially leading to a rise in fertility rates and the socio-economic impact on individuals, households and communities. COVID-19 is expected to interrupted access of women to reproductive healthcare services and commodities. Given that pregnant women are more likely to have contact with health services (antenatal care and delivery), they can be greatly exposed to infections in health facilities which may discourage attendance.
COVID-19 poses a serious threat to women’s engagement in economic activities, especially in informal sectors, and gender gaps can be increased in livelihoods. In Egypt, 18.1% of women are heads of households . 40.9% of females’ total non-agricultural employment is in informal employment and 33.9% of females’ employment is vulnerable employment. Meanwhile 6.7% of female employment in industry; 36.4% of females’ employment is in agriculture; while 56.8% of female employment in services; Egyptian women also represent 70% of the paid care sector workforce (mainly as teachers, health and social workers). Moreover, the paid care sector in Egypt represents around 28–31 % of overall female employment. Women are almost four times more likely than men to work in the paid care sector.
Recognizing that, the Egyptian government started to take stringent procedures and measures to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 according to the pace of its spread, while considering all segments needs and women in specific during the execution of those measures. The government was particularly keen to integrate & mainstream all the needs of Egyptian women into the entire decision making process needed and the implementation of programs in order to ensure women’s empowerment & protection against the socio-economic and psychological repercussions of the new COVID-19 pandemic.
During the meeting held on 22 March 2020 in celebration of the Egyptian Women’s Day, the speech of the President of the Republic conveyed a number of messages that in general represent a mechanism to face the risks of spread of COVID-19. The President also issued a set of economic and social protection decrees to support and protect all society, and recognized the role and status of the Egyptian woman and the importance of continuing her supportive role during this current phase.
Since the National Council for Women is the national machinery concerned with proposing the government public policy on women’s development pursuant to Law No. 30 of 2018, NCW has prepared a policy paper regarding Egypt’s rapid response to women’s situation during COVID-19 outbreak, which includes an analysis of the status quo. In this paper, NCW has presented a number of proposed response measures, whether immediate or middle-term responses, for concerned all line ministries & government institutions, regarding the following pillars:
1. Impact on human endowment (health, education and social protection) through applying/upscaling the already existing support programs regarding all health aspects including psychological, mental & physical as well as reproductive health care services; social protection programs; particularly response measures for older women; women with disabilities; pregnant women, and women of reproductive age, and education, to deal with the consequences of the school lockdown and the potential girls’ dropout.
2. Women’s voice & agency (Violence Against Women, Leadership and Representation in decision making during crisis managment) women’s participation in the decision making process can enhance the health security control mechanisms, examination and protection of health, and ensure women’s accessibility to the relevant information. Also response measures can be adopted to provide psychosocial, legal and advisory support for women who may be subject to violence resulting from the implications of social conditions generated by the precautionary measures taken to respond to COVID-19 outbreak.
3. Impact on economic opportunities: the proposed response interventions depend on the already existing mechanisms as well as introducing new ones to support the women workers whose livelihoods have been affected or whose income from freelance work has declined. Alternative solutions should be proposed to address the economic downturn and its impact on working women in the formal or informal sector.
4. Promoting data and knowledge: promoting the compilation of data designed by sex, age and disability-disaggregated data on COVID-19, including tracking the emergency response measures, support policy research & social innovation; monitoring & evaluating the impact of the COVID-19; and conduct public opinion surveys in order to recognize the differences in exposure and treatment & help design the preventive measures accordingly.
In this regard, NCW established the “Women policy tracker on Responsive Policies and Programs During COVID-19 Pandemic” to serve the following purposes:
1) Monitor all issued policies and procedures responsive to the needs of Egyptian women in light of the efforts made to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
2) Design an easier tool that can be used as reference to all women related issued policies that can be used by decision makers for a more collaborative & comprehensive vision on means of moving forward.
3) Document the efforts & highlight the outcome of the coordinated efforts of the government on women related policies to protect them & their families from the COVID-19
4) Reflect on all those policies with necessary supporting programs & initiatives
The major women related responsive policies and measures taken by the Egyptian Government
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in collaboration with all the concerned bodies constantly issues measures and programs to combat the spread of the virus. Moreover, MoHP issues all the data on the numbers of COVID-19 cases transparently and disaggregated by sex & age.
(14 March 2020)
- The President issued a decree on suspending classes in universities and schools for two weeks; as protection for the children allowing the mothers to rest assure of their safety.
- The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS) issued a decree on the lockdown of nurseries for two weeks; as protection for the children allowing the mothers to rest assure of their safety.
(16 March 2020)
- The Prime Minister issued Decree No. 719 of 2020, including inter alia:
o The number of employees in government authorities and bodies shall be reduced under the set of the precautionary measures taken by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
o Pregnant women or those looking after one child or more of less than 12 years shall be granted an exceptional leave for as long as the Decree remains in force; allowing all working mothers to be able to do their family duties without losing their jobs.
o Women employees looking after their children with disabilities shall be granted a leave pursuant to a circular; allowing mothers of children with disabilities to be able to take care of their children without losing their jobs.
- MoHP announced taking special measures on dispensing medicines for chronic diseases, formula milk and Family planning methods (contraceptives) for three months; accessibility needed reproductive healthcare services for women
(19 March 2020)
- Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS) announced intensifying the precautionary measures for children in foster homes and providing all the health precautions and awareness-raising leaflets, including welfare homes, correctional institutions, orphanages, nursing homes, social protection facilities, people with disabilities, and women shelters; protection of elderly women and women with disabilities living in the shelters; Preparedness to any potential case of violence against women through secured concerned shelters.
(22 March 2020)
- The President instructed as part of a set of decrees and directives aimed to address the new COVID-19 to launch campaigns for raising the awareness of citizens for guidance and providing precise information, and strengthen health control according to the highest standards, at the points of entry to the country; Awareness raising & promoting data & knowledge to include women beneficiaries.
- MoSS announced increasing the number of beneficiaries of conditional cash transfer from Takaful and Karama Program to 100,000 households; Social protection especially for women heads of households
- MoSS announced increasing the monthly income for rural women leaders from EGP 300 to EGP 900 per month; increased support to women rural leaders on ground
- MoSS announced integrating women aged 65 and above in nursing homes under the umbrella of social protection; protection of elderly women
- MoSS announced increasing the number of beneficiaries of soft loans and loans with negligible interest rates to set up micro enterprises so that they can improve the living standard of their families; economic opportunities to include women in need to microfinance loans
(24 March 2020)
- Extending the suspension of classes in schools and universities and lockdown of nurseries of whatever type;
- The Ministry of Manpower (MoM) announced the steps of registration of irregular workers on MoM website to receive an exceptional allowance of EGP 500, as part of the government plan to protect them due to being affected by the COVID-19; providing economic support to include women irregular workers
(26 March 2020)
The Prime Minister issued Decree No. 776 of 2020 on establishing a workers’ emergency benefits fund and forming a committee for the irregular workers affected by the economic repercussions of the new Coronavirus, composed of (the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Minister of Manpower, Minister of Social Solidarity, NCW President, Chairman of Information and Decision Support Center, Head of the Suggestion and Complaints Committee of the National Wage Council, and a member of the Administrative Control Authority). Including NCW in this committee reflects the government’s belief in the importance of women’s voice & agency through representation, participation & involvement in the process of decision making and taking into account the needs of Egyptian women while designing the policies and strategies aimed to respond and mitigate the impacts of the new Coronavirus.
The Committee shall be responsible for the following:
o Collect the data of the workers affected by the economic repercussions of the new Coronavirus, and take the necessary actions in coordination with the various concerned bodies to offer financial and social support to the workers to overcome the crisis.
o Coordinate the efforts and initiatives introduced by financial institutions, companies, businessmen, non-governmental institutions and other concerned bodies so that the aids are delivered to those eligible.
o Coordinate with the Workers’ Emergency Benefits Fund to ensure the existence of a consolidated database for the affected workers to avoid double disbursement.
o Develop policies for workers’ compensation in case of partial or full lockdown of the facilities in which they work, in coordination with the concerned funds and accounts.
(29 March 2020)
- The President issued a decree on increasing the monthly allowance for medical professionals by 75% and establishing a risk fund for medical professionals; Economic benefits to include women health care providers (doctors & medical professionals)
- The President announced the disbursement of exceptional bonuses from “Tahya Misr” Fund for all the workers in quarantine, fever and chest hospitals and central labs allover Egypt; Economic benefits to include women health care providers
- The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) issued a set of resolutions on the activity of microfinance for the benefit of 3.1 million citizens, including:
o Reduce or postpone the installments due from the clients by 50% of the value of each installment for microfinance clients.
o Exempt microfinance clients who make timely payments from the commission of the prepayment of indebtedness or reducing the administrative fees to renew the existing funding; economic opportunities benefiting women in microfinance
(2 April 2020)
- The President instructed to provide additional support to the health sector and enhance the financial conditions of the health workers, doctors and nurses, by increasing the bonuses granted to medical interns during their internships in university hospitals under the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE0) and Scientific Research and Al-Azhar University hospitals, to EGP 2200 per month, instead of EGP 400, as of December 2019 class; economic benefits to include women doctors
(5 April 2020)
- The MoH launched 2 hotlines to provide necessary psychological support to citizens at home; psychological support programs to include women beneficiaries
(6 April 2020)
- The President instructed to provide allowances of 500 EGP for irregular workers who might be impacted by the COVID-19 for 3 consecutive months; economic benefits to include women irregular worker.
- The President instructed to upscale decent housing by building 250,000 new housing unit and another 100,000 housing unit for the people living in unsafe habitat; Social protection intervention to include women beneficiaries
The National Council for Women will continue tracking & monitoring all issued policies & programs that mainstream & respond to the needs of women during this crisis. NCW commits to a strong coordination with all concerned ministries and bodies to support the implementation of those policies as well as suggesting new polices in favor of Egyptian women.
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The NCW report reviewed many decisions made this month, as following:
(2 January 2021)
- The Ministry of Justice has launched a new package of electronic real estate registration services to make documentation services easily and conveniently available to citizens and bring them closer together. This will be realized in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Egyptian Post Authority through six new authentication branches and more headquarters will be opened in succession to the launch of Egypt's digital services provided through the website digital.gov.eg, which saves time and effort and reduce crowding in branches in light of the COVID-19. At the end of last year, the Ministry of Justice limited the provision of documentation services in certain branches to pre-booking and supporting the real estate, documentation, expert and forensic sectors
- The Ministry of Manpower, during the year 2020, as part of the state's plan to confront the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic took the following actions:
o Issuing "Aman" certificates, of a total of two million and 72 thousand Egyptian pounds for the irregular workers’.
o Establishing an operations room to follow up the implementation of precautionary measures for the repercussions of the COVID-19 in 38,459 facilities
o Launching a number of initiatives, including the "Egypt is more beautiful" initiative to train, qualify and employ people with disabilities. The first phase was implemented in Aswan, Assiut, Beni Suef, Alexandria, Daqahlia and Sharkia. 893 trainees were trained through 18 programs, and 622 job opportunities were provided for people with disabilities.
o Increasing periodic bonuses and additional incentives from 150 to 375 pounds, increasing the tax exemption limit by 60%, reducing tax rates for middle and low-income people, and approving an additional package for 60% of workers in the state.
(5 January 2021)
- The Ministry of Social Solidarity confirmed the perpetuation of work in nurseries, while reducing the density to 50% and strengthening the necessary precautionary measures and closing in case of an increase in HIV infections, and that only 11 of the 4,000 nurseries were closed due to injuries.
- The Ministry of Health announced the allocation of 34 centers to provide vaccination services with vaccines for the COVID-19 throughout the week, and that the priority in obtaining vaccines will be for health sector workers, oncology patients, and people with chronic diseases, provided that the state shall cover the costs of the vaccine for the beneficiaries and beneficiaries of the "Takaful & Karama" program and for people with chronic diseases.
- The Cabinet announced that the number of hospitals that currently provide services to COVID-19 patients has reached 500 hospitals, either Ministry of Health hospitals, which have reached about 363 hospitals or higher education hospitals, and other government agencies that provide their services.
- The Cabinet announced the activation of an electronic system to follow up the rates of medical oxygen consumption in all hospitals 24 hours a day with sufficient reserve stock in each governorate.
(7 January 2021)
- The Doctors Syndicate has agreed with the Insurance and Pensions Authority on the rules for disbursing the work injury pension to women and men doctors’ martyrs of the COVID-19, according to the decision issued on May 30, 2020, considering the COVID-19 as an infectious disease that is entitled to a work injury pension after submitting the required documents to the authority. it will reach an amount of 6000 pounds during this year.
(9 January 2021)
- The Ministry of Health, Population and Health Insurance decided to grant exceptional leave to pregnant women whose pregnancy passed 28 weeks (7 months) until the date of birth.
(20 January 2021)
- The Egyptian Cabinet approves the draft law submitted by the National Committee for the eradication of FGM -after the study/review of Ministry of Justice- amending some provisions of the Penal Code to increase the punishment of FGM crimes, the amendments were stipulated in Article (242 bis & 242 (a) bis)
International Recognition:
The Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Women praised the many efforts and decisions that Egypt is currently making to face the repercussions of the COVID19 , taking into account the needs of Egyptian women, and the women policy tracker and Programs in Support of Women during the Pandemic.
Egypt ranked first in the Middle East and West Asia in terms of the number of measures taken to support women in the face of the emerging COVID-19 and the number of measures taken by Egypt according to the standards of the United Nations, reaching 21 measures and actions.
This is the highest level of action taken in the Middle East and West Asia since the beginning of the crisis, according to the report issued by the UNDP and the UN Women and the Empowerment of Women on the measures taken by the countries of the world to support women during the pandemic.
The Arab Republic of Egypt is ranked seventh and first in the Arab world and Africa in medical research for the COVID-19, in the “COVID-19 Research Index”, with 108 studies and research so far.
Finally, The National Council for Women will continue tracking & monitoring all issued policies & programs that mainstream & respond to the needs of women during this crisis.
NCW commits to a strong coordination with all concerned ministries and bodies to support the implementation of those policies as well as suggesting new polices in favor of Egyptian women.
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