Egypt Plans a New Social Protection Package Ahead of Ramadan
Egypt is preparing to roll out a new social protection package ahead of Ramadan, aiming to support low-income households and the most vulnerable groups at a time when spending on food and essential goods typically rises.
The move is framed as a targeted step to ease cost-of-living pressures through direct financial assistance.
According to an official statement, the social protection package is expected to be implemented before the start of Ramadan and delivered as direct cash support tied to Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
The focus is on ensuring benefits reach eligible recipients quickly, while maintaining a clear mechanism for targeting and oversight.
The plan also includes early disbursement of February salaries for state employees during the current week, before Ramadan begins.
The measure is designed to bolster household liquidity and help families manage peak seasonal expenses more smoothly.
In parallel, officials discussed allocating additional funding to complete first-phase projects under the “Haya Karima” initiative, alongside efforts to create job opportunities for the most in-need groups.
The agenda also covered strengthening the healthcare sector by expanding access to treatment, improving care services, addressing critical cases and waiting lists, and speeding up the rollout of universal health insurance.
With the launch of the social protection package, the broader approach combines direct income support with service-side measures, particularly in healthcare, to reinforce safety nets and improve resilience for vulnerable households.
On the economic policy front, the discussions included steps to increase incomes for government employees and proposed tax facilitation and reform measures for fiscal year 2026/2027.
These include simplifying tax procedures, improving the property tax system, and adjusting certain customs tariffs to support domestic industry, encourage investment, curb smuggling, and respond to key demands from the industrial sector.
The meeting also reviewed updates on talks with the International Monetary Fund, efforts to reduce public budget-sector debt relative to GDP, and progress on the government’s debt management strategy.
Authorities further assessed overall financial and economic performance, along with plans to boost investor confidence and enhance the competitiveness of Egypt’s economy.
