Egypt's Cabinet ratified on Wednesday a draft law to increase pensions and minimum wages for the state employees and announced by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi earlier this week, according to a Cabinet statement. The bill stipulates that pensions of state employees would be increased by 15 percent, with a minimum raise of 150 Egyptian pounds ($8.6). The bill also sets a minimum monthly pension of 900 Egyptian pounds ($52), including all increases and allowances. The new increases, which Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said are meant to improve living conditions of low-income people, will cost the state coffers 60 billion pounds. The draft law has set a minimum regular bonus of 75 Egyptian pounds ($4.3) for state employees governed by the civil service law. These include employees working at ministries and government authorities, local administration bodies and public authorities. The bill sets a minimum increase of 10 percent of the basic salary for those not governed by the civil service law, including employees at state authorities with internal bylaws, state TV and radio, the judiciary, diplomats, staff members, physicians, and teachers. The legislation also stipulates that employees who get promoted are entitled to a promotion bonus worth 5 percent of their basic salaries. The bill has to be approved by parliament and ratified by the president before it goes into effects. Source: Ahram Online
