On Labor Day, Sisi: Egypt to Witness New phase of Hard Work, Production

On the occasion of Labor Day, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi delivered a speech on Sunday, greeting Egyptians, Arabs, and Islamic nations on the occasion of celebrating Eid El-Fitr and Labor Day.

"Egyptians have realized, over the years and ages, the value of work, and therefore worked diligently, generation after generation. Their status rose and civilization flourished, preceding nations," Sisi said.He added: "We are about to witness a new phase of hard work and production, taking our great nation to new horizons. This requires the contribution of Egypt’s labor to continue the journey that we embarked on.""Human capital has always been the core of development. So, we have decided to invest in developing its skills, professional abilities, knowledge and awareness," Sisi stressed.He noted that "Egypt has made remarkable reforms in the vocational training and technical education system, in accordance with international quality standards. Our international indices have risen in this regard."

"We also gave directives for the training services to reach the Egyptian villages through mobile training units across the country, under the umbrella of the “Decent Life” Initiative, in order to improve daily services offered to citizens and provide job opportunities in small and medium enterprises."Sisi affirmed that "The right to work has received a lot of attention from the state by intensifying efforts to reduce the p.henomenon of unemployment, including the expansion of mega national projects, and the establishment of the Medium, Small & Micro Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) to motivate the youth to start their projects and develop preparatory and training programs for job seekers."

The president manifested that "To ensure this is achieved, I have directed the government to expedite the finalization of the National Employment Strategy, which aims to provide new job opportunities for the youth and realize job growth in line with economic growth."

"This strategy will be compatible with the new reality of the labor market, keeping pace with the sudden economic and modern technological changes, and dealing effectively with future jobs."

Sisi asserted "Egypt has also paid special attention to increasing the minimum wage for workers in state agencies and its public, economic and service bodies."

"In parallel, the National Council for Wages has decided to set the minimum wage for workers in the private sector for the first time in Egypt many years ago."

He added "On the other hand, it has become clear that empowering women economically and enhancing their role in the labor market help accelerate the country’s economic growth, increase the national income, and double the rates of development."

Therefore, the state embarked upon a path of reforms for working women. It also emphasized the importance of developing a supportive framework to empower women in the labor market, support them to join future jobs, and protect them in the workplace.

"Nation-builders … sources of hope … makers of the future of next generations, you are the solid foundation of this society, its main means for survival and continuity, and its driving force toward growth and prosperity. Work hard and you will find me by your side, supporting your issues and rights," Sisi said during his speech.