Egypt's stocks retreat on Wednesday; July 30 amid local sell-off    Egypt's Cabinet approves E-Tax platform contract    EU economic sentiment improves in July '25    PM: Sisi's Gaza speech reaffirms Cairo's steadfast stance on Palestinian cause    Egypt, France airdrop aid to Gaza amid growing humanitarian crisis, global criticism of Israel    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



PA approves annual budget
Published in Daily News Egypt on 20 - 05 - 2009

CAIRO: The People's Assembly (PA) approved Tuesday the government's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009/10, with plans to increase spending on the health sector and water management.
Mohamed Khalil Kwaitah, PA member affiliated with the National Democratic Party (NDP), told Daily News Egypt that the majority in the PA voted for the amendments that were proposed by the planning and budget committee.
The committee proposed cutting from the exporters' budget and allocating the money to water management, Kwaitah said.
During the same session, the PA approved President Hosni Mubarak's recommendation of a 10 percent social raise.
"The same increase will also apply to pensions, Kwaitah said.
However, Hussein Ibrahim, head of the Muslim Brotherhood's parliamentary bloc, said that the changes in the budget "are not enough and do not meet our [Brotherhood MPs'] demands.
"We had a detailed draft of the budget that includes changes to every point in the government's proposed budget, Ibrahim said.
He said the group has repeatedly called for increasing minimum wages.
"In general, the changes [bonuses and special raises] the government applies do not affect basic salaries, Ibrahim said.
"It is not fair that some employees receive basic salaries of LE 200 while their employers can be receiving LE 1 million because of extra bonuses and raises, Ibrahim added.
The group is holding a press conference next week to discuss the issue.
Moreover, independent PA member Gamal Zahran also proposed setting an average basic salary for all public sector employees that ranges between a minimum of LE 1,200 and a maximum of LE 12,000.
However those demands were not approved by the PA.
Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali responded to inquiries by PA members regarding the government's plan to decrease the part of the budget allocated to subsidies. He said this is directly related to a drop in global commodity prices.
Boutros-Ghali cited a ton of wheat that used to cost $480 during early 2009, but now stands at $180.
He stressed that the price of subsidized commodities that citizens buy with ration cards issued by the Ministry of Social Solidarity will not decrease.
"On the contrary, more families will be given ration cards to purchase subsidized commodities.


Clic here to read the story from its source.