Egypt's Deputy of Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance, Hazem al-Beblawy, said the ministry has accepted the a maximum wage which would cap wages at 36 times the minimum wage. Before a meeting with the Cabinet, Bebalawy said the wage was set to account for an average yearly increase of 10 percent and to prevent an overly wide or narrow difference between the highest and lowest wages. The minimum monthly wage was set at 700 EGP (U.S. $117.5) on July 1.