It was another busy day at the House, with MPs approving amendments to the SMEs Act and Child Act, as well as a number of presidential decrees.

#1- Changes to the SMEs Act: MPs yesterday gave final approval to amendments to the 2020 SMEs law that grants financing handed out by the SMEs Development Agency the same exemptions and benefits afforded under the Banking Act. The amendments also bring the SMEs Act up to date so they align with the 2020 Banking Act rather than the now repealed 2003 Banking Act.

#2- Stronger child protection rules: The House approved government-drafted amendments to the Child Act to offer more social protection to children and mothers as well as extend maternity leave rights to adoptive mothers of babies less than six months old. The amendments will also introduce tougher penalties for people who fail to properly register the birth of their children or register the same child more than once. The amendments will be up for a final vote in an upcoming session.

#3- A vote in favor of three presidential decrees: The House greenlit bills banning doubletaxation on earnings generated from air transport between Egypt and Brazil, a CAD 10 mngrant from the Canadian government to enhance food security and fight climate change, and Egypt joining the Basel Convention, which aims to regulate the trade and disposal of hazardous waste.

House committee approves Abu Qir metro funding: The House Transport Committee approved an agreement that will see the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank provide EUR 250 mn in financing for the redevelopment of the Abu Qir railway in Alexandria. The project seeks to convert the railway into an electric, low-carbon, underground metro.

What’s next: The House will reconvene on Sunday, 19 November.

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