Egyptian Member of Parliament Ihab Mansour, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives' Labor Committee, has called for a review of the mechanisms used to assess social support for the most vulnerable groups within the Social Guarantee Law. He emphasized the need to link support allocations to inflation rates and price increases periodically. Mansour's statements were made during an interview with journalist Yasser Fuda on the "Focus" program broadcast on the "Sun" channel.
Mansour highlighted that the current condition, which stipulates that support values be reviewed every three years, is no longer suitable for the economic reality. He pointed out that support values for programs like "Takaful and Karama" have remained unchanged for years, despite increasing living costs. The MP suggested reducing the review period to six months or a year, or directly linking it to daily inflation indicators to provide real protection for citizens.
Regarding the "old rent" issue, Mansour stated that both parties involved – the landlord and the tenant – can be considered victims under current legislation. He noted that the law allows landlords to reclaim their properties if they are proven to have been closed for over a year or if the tenant owns another residential unit. However, the practical procedures for reclaiming properties are slow.
Mansour cited data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, which showed that approximately 236,000 tenants own more than one unit under the old rent system. Additionally, around 300,000 units were recorded as closed or abandoned in 2017, with many still not returned to their original owners. This situation highlights the complexities in resolving the old rent law issue.
The MP emphasized that a significant portion of tenants are unable to afford market rent, including retirees, families receiving "Takaful and Karama" support, single mothers, and people with disabilities who are unemployed. He proposed that the state provide additional rental support directly to these tenants to cover the financial difference, ensuring landlords receive a fair return on their property without burdening low-income citizens.
Mansour expressed hope that his proposals would be considered and implemented by the executive authorities to resolve one of Egypt's most complex social issues. He stressed the importance of finding a balanced solution that protects the rights of both landlords and tenants.
The issue of old rent laws and social support reforms remains a significant challenge for Egyptian policymakers. With rising living costs and an increasing number of citizens struggling to afford basic needs, finding effective solutions is crucial. Mansour's proposals aim to address these challenges and provide relief to vulnerable groups.
Key points
- The Egyptian government is urged to reconsider its mechanisms for assessing social support to keep pace with rising living costs.
- Approximately 236,000 tenants in Egypt own more than one unit under the old rent system.
- The MP proposed providing additional rental support to low-income tenants to help them afford market rent.
