Sisi ratifies law granting two bonuses for workers

CAIRO – 23 June 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi issued Saturday a law that stipulates granting a special allowance and a bonus to state employees, after being ratified by the Parliament.

The first article of the law no. 96/2018 stipulates a minimum salary increment of LE 65 per month, starting Jun. 1, 2018 for employees who fall under rules of the 37th article of the Civil Service Law, which was issued in accordance with law no. 81/2016.

As of Jun. 1, 2018, according to the second article of the law, state workers who do not fall under law no. 81/2016 will receive a special allowance of 10 percent of their basic salaries, with a minimum of LE 65 per month; the special allowance hereby is considered part of the basic salaries of workers.

The new bonuses come within a major economic reform program that was launched last November in order to alleviate the financial burdens on Egypt and its citizens.

The third article of the law also grants state workers, whether they fall under rules of the Civil Service Law or not, a bonus of LE 200 for grade 4 employees or their equivalents, LE 190 for general management degrees or their equivalents.

This bonus is deemed by the law as a part of the basic salaries of state employees and shall come into effect as of Jun. 1, 2018.

The fourth article of the law also requires companies of both the public and business sectors to grant their workers allowances and bonuses that do not fall below the allowances and bonuses granted to state employees.

It is pertinent to mention that Deputy Finance Minister Ahmed Kojak said on Wednesday that the cabinet discussed during its meeting the financial allocations for the 2018/2019 state budget, which were previously approved by the House of Representatives.

The allocations included a 7 percent increase in the annual bonus payments in addition to another 10 percent bonus. The salaries also surged LE 22 billion, serving some 5 million employees, he added.

Speaking at a press conference at the Cabinet’s headquarters, Kojak revealed three programs at the new state budget that aim to maintain social justice.