Cairo: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly directed the preparation of a package of incentives to encourage informal workers, self-employed professionals, and Egyptians living abroad to join Egypt's social insurance system and benefit from broader social protection.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the directive emerged from a meeting attended by key government officials, including Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy, Minister of Labor Hassan Raddad, and Chairman of the National Organization for Social Insurance (NOSI) Gamal Awad. The initiative aligns with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's directives to expand social insurance coverage and ensure citizens have access to comprehensive social and healthcare benefits.
Awad mentioned that the National Organization for Social Insurance is simplifying registration procedures and expanding coverage to more groups within the informal economy. He highlighted that requiring proof of social insurance registration for commercial transport vehicles has significantly improved compliance among professional drivers and suggested that this model could be applied to other sectors.
The NOSI head also emphasized efforts to include delivery workers, fishermen, construction workers, traditional artisans, journalists, cinema professionals, and employees of civil society organizations under the insurance system. Coordination with government agencies is ongoing to improve coverage across the informal labor market.
Meanwhile, Minister Kouchouk indicated that the government is evaluating financial and administrative incentives to encourage broader participation. Minister Morsy stressed the importance of integrating social protection programs with the insurance system to enhance support for vulnerable workers.
Minister Raddad elaborated on the ministry's coordination with relevant authorities to develop practical mechanisms to motivate informal workers, particularly delivery workers, to join the insurance system. In conclusion, Prime Minister Madbouly instructed a ministerial working group to prepare a final proposal for the incentive package for submission to the Cabinet for approval.