Kouchouk lays out the details of the new social protection package: Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk shared the details of the government’s long-awaited social protection package of wage and pension hikes and support to Egypt’s most vulnerable yesterday following the cabinet’s weekly meeting.

It’s a two parter: The package includes measures that will take effect starting the new fiscal year in July and other that will be implemented between March and July.

#1- Wage hikes incoming: Starting July, civil servants and workers at state-owned enterprises are set to see their salaries increase by no less than EGP 1.1k, Kouchouk said. Meanwhile, the public-sector minimum wage will rise by EGP 1k to EGP 7k.

You heard it here first: EnterpriseAM reported back in January that the Madbouly government is planning to raise the minimum wage for civil servants and workers at state-owned enterprises by EGP 1k to EGP 7k.

The private sector did it first: Earlier this month the National Wages Council decided to raisethe minimum wage for private sector workers to EGP 7k a month, up from EGP 6k, starting March. The council also introduced a minimum wage for part-time employees, who will now make no less than EGP 28 per hour.

Remember: The government last increased the public sector minimum wage early last year, raising it by 50% to EGP 6k as part of a wider EGP 180 bn social support package.

#2- Pension increases: The state will increase pension payouts by 15% starting the new fiscal year, the minister said.

The cost of it all: The wage and pension hikes will cost the state some EGP 85 bn next fiscal year, Kouchouk said, adding that the increases will impact 4.5 mn public sector employees and 13 mn pension-receiving families.

#3- Increasing the cost of living allowance: The government will also raise the exceptional cost of living allowance to EGP 1k for all government employees.

#4- A EGP 10 bn economic empowerment fund: Kouchouk noted that the state will set up a EGP 10 bn fund dedicated to economically empowering the youth, providing them with jobs, qualifying them for the job market, and helping them establish projects.

#5- Short-term relief through Ramadan and Eid: The government will increase funding for 10 mn low income families registered in the ration card system, with payments ranging from EGP 125-250 per household depending on the number of family members. The increase will be made with the beginning of Ramadan and once again during Eid Al Fitr. Meanwhile, the 5.2 mn families part of the Takaful and Karama program will receive an EGP 300 lump sum this Ramadan, with permanent stipend increases of 25% starting April.

#6- Support for irregular workers: Irregular workers will receive a new EGP 1.5k stipend, paid six times a year through the Labor Ministry.

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