The Egyptian Trade Union Federation is the latest to line up for its chance to milk the private sector, state coffers. ETUF has prepared model legislation that it says will improve pension benefits for private-sector workers, particularly for casual workers who aren’t covered under the current pensions act, including construction workers and truck drivers The federation is presenting its work as a “draft bill” that will soon go to the House of Representatives. While it has no power to table a bill for consideration, its secretary general is Gebaly El Maraghi, who is also the chairman of the House Manpower Committee. ETUF is presenting the bill as a bid to replace the current 1975 law with one that’s “more in line with the past four decades of social and economic changes” and guarantee medical insurance, severance and end-of-service bonuses for workers, MP Mohamed Wahb Allah tells the newspaper. The bill would also mandate annual increases in pension payouts. El Maraghi plans to introduce his bill for consideration by his committee “after the Eid break in early July,” Al Mal says, adding credence to suggestions the house will delay its summer recess to tackle a backlog of legislation.

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