CAIRO, April 29, 2018 (MENA) - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi expressed his honor for celebrating Labor Day with Egyptian workers and appreciation of each and every worker."It is actually my honor to be with you and not as you said a short while ago that you are honored for my participation here today," the president said in an improvised speech before reading his written address during his celebration of Labor Day on Sunday. "It is my pleasure to honor every honest person who builds and helps in developing the country," he said."It was Allah the Almighty who protected Egypt and not me and we should never forget that. The Egyptian people also protected the country and I will always remind myself and you of that," he added. He expressed appreciation to each and every Egyptian home that offered its son for the sake of Egypt, saying these homes are the ones who offered sacrifices to protect the homeland. President Sisi added in his address that Egypt's workers have been playing their role throughout history. However, their role was exceptionally prominent during the past four years. "I can never overlook the achievements reached in drilling the Suez Canal in one year only, digging four tunnels in one and a half years, setting up power plants in two years and building and continuing to build roads," he said. "All this work does not only refer to a number of projects that have been achieved but also to the fact that this work can never be implemented by myself or someone else but by God's blessings and the efforts of Egypt's laborers," he added. "Egyptian workers, men and women, you are the ones who are playing this role. You have congratulated me but I should say that you are going to exert more effort as well," he said. President Sisi added that he is looking forward to the Parliament's issuance of the new labor law which aims to reach job security and stability to private sector workers. "I am looking forward to having honest business owners resolve problems of workers, protect their rights and shoulder their social responsibility toward workers and the homeland," he said. "I am certain that Egypt's workers are capable of resuming the march of development which would not have been completed without their willpower and sincere patriotism. They will never allow anyone to threaten the stability of Egypt, the ancient homeland that is proud of its strong and honorable people who are taking steps toward progress and prosperity," he added. "The Egyptian people's awareness of protecting their country is the only way to safeguard Egypt against any danger, threat or conspiracy," the president said. He concluded his speech by expressing his greetings and appreciation to all Egyptian workers on their Labor Day."The economic reform program was tough for everyone particularly laborers who have endured a lot. However, it has yielded two important things, namely the success of the presidential program and the improvement of Egypt's image before the whole world. It has proven that the people are well aware and ready to sacrifice and endure for the sake of their country's progress," President Sisi said. "These very tough difficulties were endured by the Egyptian citizens and laborers with love," he said, voicing appreciation to the Egyptian people for that. "I am very optimistic when it comes to the efficiency of the Egyptian people and their ability to reach the highest levels of work and production. What Egypt witnessed over the past four years in terms of success stories that some thought as impossible, have proven that the Egyptians are a kind of people who can deliver if they have the will. When it comes to their ambitions and achievements, the sky is the limit," he added. "Throughout the past four years my main mission was to stabilize the country, enhance its coherence and restore stability which is necessary for pursuing progress. While we were working on stabilizing the country during restive conditions the region was going through we were also building for the future and laying down the foundations of progress," he added. "There was no solution to our problem except realistic confrontation and restoring to temporary solutions and leaving problems to become more complicated was not possible and that was why I did not hesitate to take necessary decisions to set up strong and real bases that allow for a different reality and make us realize our aspirations for a modern and developed state," he said. President Sisi expressed happiness with the application of the integrated social protection system which is being constantly renovated to cover all those in need. The president referred to the "Takaful and Karama" system which provides monthly aid to millions of people to lead a decent life and to "Aman" insurance certificate which is intended for irregular workers.It provides security and protection to irregular workers and women breadwinners, he said. Manpower Minister Mohamed Saafan asserted, in a speech before the audience of the Labor Day ceremony, that President Sisi succeeded in restoring the Egyptian state from the conspirators; and in cementing its pillars despite all terrorist attacks. The country also passed to stability by combating terrorism. "The Egyptian people have faced huge challenges for four years with full determination. During these years, President Sisi implemented major national projects in all fields, topped by the new Suez Canal project in addition to what was achieved in the security and counter-terror domains in which the main role is being played by the Armed Forces and police to eliminate terrorist pockets," said Saafan. He congratulated Sisi on his new presidential term which constitutes a victory of the will of the people who had faced unprecedented challenges and threats for years. The minister said that the ministry of manpower seeks to establish fair relations between workers and employers to make sure that each party obtains its rights and is committed to performing its duties towards the other. He noted that a new labor bill has been referred to the parliament and is expected to be approved and issued soon. He also pointed out to a newly-approved law on trade unions, under which trade union elections will be held in May.Saafan expressed appreciation for the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and police. Saafan asserted that Egypt is not among countries recently enlisted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) as violators of the world labor conventions, which confirms that efforts exerted during the recent period have had a positive impact on Egypt's position at international forums including the 107th International Labor Conference scheduled for June in Geneva. In accordance with directives of President Sisi to move to e-government, the ministry of manpower has implemented 60% of a plan to transfer its work from the paper system to an electronic system, said the minister, adding that this required the ministry to develop its information center and to upgrade the efficiency and capabilities of its employees in cooperation with the Ministry of Military Production and major telecommunications and software companies operating in Egypt. Thanks to the plan, the center will contribute to linking the Ministry with 27 manpower directorates nationwide, he further said.A project to automate the inspection system has been finalized, said Saafan, adding that there are offices for the new system in 11 governorates. The offices of all manpower directorates in the country have also become automatic, he noted. Saafan said that creating new jobs for youths both at home and abroad to solve the unemployment crisis is one of the main objectives of the ministry of manpower along with efforts of all bodies concerned. The ministry managed during the period from March 2017 to April 2018 to provide 285,282 jobs, with 73% for males and 27% for females, he said, adding that this is in addition to the appointment of 2,562 disabled people. Also, the ministry provided 457, 077 jobs for Egyptians in 16 Arab and foreign countries, he said, adding that cooperation protocols have been signed with foreign companies in the petroleum field to provide high-tech training for youths to develop their skills. He also pointed out that cooperation protocols have been inked with five universities to train graduates in technical professions.
