Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi used Egypt’s Labor Day platform to deliver a mix of economic messaging and direct financial support measures, unveiling new benefits for workers while showcasing ongoing industrial expansion in one of the country’s most strategic zones.
The event was held at the Egyptian National Railways Industries Company facility in East Port Said, inside the Suez Canal Economic Zone, signaling the government’s continued focus on industrial localization and infrastructure-led growth. Senior state officials, military leadership, and labor representatives attended the ceremony.
During the event, the president inaugurated four new projects via video link, including electricity transformer stations and two public hospitals, reinforcing the state’s parallel push in both infrastructure and social services.
But the most immediate impact came from a set of directives targeting workers, particularly those in vulnerable employment categories. The government will provide a temporary monthly grant of 1,500 Egyptian pounds to irregular workers for three months starting in May 2026. Additional measures include fee exemptions for skill certification and work permits, as well as a significant increase in compensation for workplace deaths, rising from 200,000 to 300,000 pounds.
The president also announced the launch of a national labor market platform aimed at improving job matching both domestically and abroad, alongside the formation of specialized committees to better align education, training, and employment needs across key sectors.
In his speech, President Sisi framed workers as the backbone of Egypt’s development strategy, linking their role directly to the country’s broader economic ambitions. He stressed that the “Made in Egypt” concept is not symbolic, but a core national objective tied to economic security, industrial expansion, and long-term job creation.
The address also highlighted the scale of Egypt’s employment challenge. With roughly 60 to 65 percent of the population under the age of 40, the pressure to generate jobs remains intense. The president noted that the labor market currently includes around 60 million people, requiring continuous expansion in both public and private sector opportunities.
Despite regional and global economic pressures, President Sisi pointed to a decline in unemployment to 6.2 percent, presenting it as evidence of progress driven by major national projects and private sector participation.
Agriculture and land development were also central to the message. The government is working to reclaim 4.5 million feddans of land, including large-scale projects in the New Delta and Sinai, with supporting infrastructure such as major water treatment facilities already in place.
The event concluded with the president honoring a number of workers across sectors and touring the rail manufacturing facility, where a locally assembled metro train was presented as a symbol of Egypt’s push toward industrial self-sufficiency.
The broader message was clear: the state is doubling down on job creation, industrial growth, and worker support, but the scale of the challenge means execution, not announcements, will ultimately define the outcome.
