The Egyptian Cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft law aimed to combat drug addiction among state employees, as part of a massive campaign launched after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi firmly pledged to fire whoever proved to be a drug addict in any state body in the aftermath of the Cairo Railway Station tragedy.
The bill conditioned the negative results of employees’ drug tests, which are to be carried out by the state’s specialised bodies, in order to appoint new employees or extend their contractual period in state administrative apparatus, including ministries, public service or economic bodies.
The bill is to be also applied to those working at public sector companies, care homes, foster care, schools, kindergartens, and private hospitals.
The draft also stipulates that drug tests will be carried suddenly to employees, without prior notice, based on an annual plan for each institution. Whoever proves to be a drug addict will be forcibly suspended from their work.
Furthermore, whoever hires employees proved to be drug addicts or allows them to continue working, will be jailed or fined. In addition to the above, whoever deliberates to fake results of drug tests will also face imprisonment.
Earlier this month, Al-Sisi asserted during a ceremony marking the ‘Day of the Martyr’, that the government will not tolerate those who prove to be drug addicts. “Whoever is on drugs will be immediately dismissed from their work,” Al-Sisi said.
The president pointed out to the Cairo Station’s deadly accident which killed and injured dozens at the end of last month.
