Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) issued a ruling on Saturday, stipulating the unconstitutionality of not giving women full annual pay increases on their extended unpaid maternity leaves.
The court ruling was issued in a case filed by the employees of Nasser Social Bank, as some of their female employees have received a part or none of their annual pay increases.
The ruling stipulated that the annual pay increases granted to employees are meant to provide them with their rights to strength their purchasing powers with the price hikes, particularly following the inflation. Women who are on unpaid maternity leave cannot be denied this right.
The court further added that denying women their financial rights can force them to refrain from their right to an unpaid maternity leave.
According to Egypt’s civil service law, female employees can take up to four months paid maternity leave, with a maximum of three times, hence three pregnancies.
The previous civil service law stipulated that female employees can only take three months paid maternity leave, and can renew them for two months without wages.
The new civil service law hadn’t specified whether the law applies to women working in private sectors as well, but several sources asserted that it applies to all female employees in both public and private sectors.
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