The upcoming legislative session in Egypt is set to be a busy one, with 34 draft laws slated for discussion by the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli announced this ambitious legislative agenda following a cabinet meeting on August 21. These laws were selected from a pool of 65 drafts, based on presidential directives, cabinet requests, and recommendations from the National Dialogue’s Board of Trustees. Below is an elaboration of the key draft laws broken down by sector.
Criminal Justice System
The government prioritizes the new Criminal Procedures Law, a comprehensive overhaul involving 540 articles. This law aims to reform regulations governing criminal trials, pretrial detention, travel bans, and asset freezes. The law is currently with the House’s Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee and is expected to be a high priority in October. Notably, amendments suggested by the National Dialogue include limiting pretrial detention for severe crimes to 18 months and for misdemeanors to four months.
Labor Laws
The 267-article Labor Law is another significant piece of legislation. Approved by the Senate in February 2022, it includes provisions banning child labor, mandating annual wage increases, capping working hours, and extending maternity leave and notice periods. However, it has faced criticism from the business community for being overly favorable to workers.
Local Administration
Egypt has been without a functioning local administration system since 2011. The Local Administration Law aims to establish a new framework for local councils. This law is particularly important as it promises to decentralize administrative functions and promote more effective local governance.
Competition and Economic Regulation
Amendments to the Competition Law are designed to empower the Egyptian Competition Authority to intervene more effectively in cases where competition rules are violated. This includes addressing economic concentrations in key industries such as defense and pharmaceuticals to ensure a competitive market environment.
Property Registration
Legislation focused on property registration will introduce a centralized digital ID system for all properties. This initiative aims to create a comprehensive property inventory and curtail informal building practices. Every building will receive a digital ID, and penalties will be enforced against tampering with these IDs.
Environmental Law
Amendments to the Environmental Law will likely focus on enhancing regulations for pollution control, waste management, and sustainability initiatives. These amendments are part of Egypt’s broader efforts to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development.
University Regulations
Changes to the University Law are expected to address governance, funding, and academic freedom issues within higher education institutions. These amendments aim to modernize Egypt’s university system and improve educational outcomes.
Traffic Law
The Traffic Law will undergo amendments to improve road safety, regulate vehicle emissions, and enhance the efficiency of traffic management systems. These changes are crucial for reducing road accidents and environmental pollution.
State Property Law
Amendments to the State Property Law will focus on better management and utilization of state-owned assets. This includes measures to enhance transparency and accountability in the administration of state property.
Corporate Transparency
New legislation aimed at increasing corporate transparency will likely introduce stricter reporting requirements for companies and measures to combat corporate fraud and corruption.
Political Laws
The legislative agenda also includes political bills proposed by the National Dialogue. These bills will address changes to the 2014 law on the exercise of political rights, the 1977 law regulating political parties, and the 2014 law governing parliamentary elections. These changes are expected to enhance democratic processes and political participation in Egypt.
Conclusion
As the new legislative season begins in October, the Egyptian parliament will have a diverse and ambitious set of laws to review. These draft laws, spanning various sectors, aim to address critical issues in criminal justice, labor rights, local administration, economic regulation, and environmental protection, among others. The successful passage and implementation of these laws could significantly impact Egypt’s socio-economic landscape.