President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met Wednesday with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Waly to discuss exerted efforts by the state to provide social protection for those with lower income.
Presidency spokesperson Alaa Youssef said in a press statement that the meeting tackled the different initiatives to enhance protection for the societal segment with lower income. During the meeting, Al-Sisi stressed the importance of continuing the social initiatives provided by the state to the faction that needs assistance in facing current economic challenges and alleviating its implications on them.
Al-Sisi also said that the prices of main goods should be sustained, adding that the number of sales outlets in remote governorates and villages should increase.
Waly disclosed during the meeting the plan of the Ministry of Social Solidarity to enhance social protection for those with lower incomes. Al-Sisi said that the government should create simulation models that address the issue of financial commitments to the social protection programmes in the next years.
The meeting was held two days after the House of Representatives approved the value-added tax (VAT) law, at a rate of 13% in fiscal year 2016/2017, and 14% in fiscal year 2017/2018.
MP Haitham Al-Hariri had previously told Daily News Egypt that the VAT will add more financial struggles on citizens and it was the wrong time for the parliament to approve this bill. He also added that the inflation rate will increase.
