Egypt’s parliament approved on Tuesday the much-debated civil services law in the first session of the House of Representatives’ second legislative term. The law has been the point of much debate since the majority of parliament voted against it in its first legislative term. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ratified the law in March 2015 prior to the election of the House of Representatives. Despite the parliament’s approval of over 300 executive decrees passed in its absence, the civil services law was met with wide opposition. The controversial law, which affects more than 5 million public sector employees, enraged many and prompted some to protest, reigniting labor action in the country after a months-long pause. In August, the parliament gave an initial approval of the law after amendments were introduced to it by the cabinet and the State Council. The amendments include increasing the raise for employees to become 7 percent instead of the previously proposed 5 percent. The new law also permits those who earned a higher degree during their time in office to be compensated according to the newly acquired degree. The parliament approved the law on Tuesday with a majority of…
