Dozens of government employees gathered in front of the press syndicate on Sunday in objection to an attempt to repass the civil service bill, amid tight security. Demonstrators called on the Cabinet to resign. Instead of the controversial civil service bill, they called for the preparation of a uniform law for all state employees without exception to be put forward for public discussion. A draft of the civil service law was ratified by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last year, enraging broad sectors of state employees and prompting some to protest, reigniting labour action in the country after a months-long pause. The bill did not pass in January when a majority in the House of Representatives voted against it. The demonstrators held banners today criticizing the government for attempting to repass a bill which was rejected by the House. After the bill was rejected, the Egyptian Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, said it will present an amended version to the legislature. If approved, the law would usher wide scale changes in the pattern of governmental work, creating a framework of oversight mechanisms on administrative state bodies. But not all workers are free to demonstrate…
