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Saudi Arabia Joins the Largest Arab Union of Iron Producers

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that it will issue a ban on working under the sun between noon and 3:00 p.m. from Wednesday (Shutterstock)
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that it will issue a ban on working under the sun between noon and 3:00 p.m. from Wednesday (Shutterstock)
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Saudi Arabia Joins the Largest Arab Union of Iron Producers

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that it will issue a ban on working under the sun between noon and 3:00 p.m. from Wednesday (Shutterstock)
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that it will issue a ban on working under the sun between noon and 3:00 p.m. from Wednesday (Shutterstock)

The National Committee for Steel Industry in the Council of Saudi Chambers has joined the largest Arab gathering of iron producers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Joining the Arab Iron & Steel Union enhances the Kingdom’s position in the sector, SPA reported, citing a statement from the committee.

Based in Algeria, the union is among the bodies approved by the League of Arab States and works to achieve Arab integration in the field of steel and iron industry.

Raed Al-Ajaji, Chairman of the National Committee for Steel Industry in the Council of Saudi Chambers, said that joining Arab Iron and Steel Union is a qualitative achievement.

According to al-Ajaji, iron and steel represent some of the most important strategic economic sectors, the backbone of the construction and development process in the Kingdom, and an essential element in the discussions and agenda of the G20 summit meetings.

Al-Ajaji explained that the membership would give access to the Arab database related to the steel industry, related reports, studies, and statistics.

Moreover, it influences the performance and trends of the steel sector in the region by allowing participation in market development programs and initiatives, communicating with experts, specialists, and industry giants, and joining work teams and expert committees in the field.

Al-Ajaji stressed the Committee's support for the efforts and activities of the Arab Iron and Steel Union, especially in terms of achieving economic integration, developing the steel industry in the region, and enhancing its competitiveness against foreign counterparts.

In other news, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that it will issue a ban on working under the sun between noon and 3:00 p.m. starting Wednesday.

The decision will go into effect on June 15 and continue until September 15, to safeguard the health and safety of workers during the hot summer months.

The ministry called on employers to outline working hours and implement the decision to limit injuries and diseases, and to also improve the productivity of employees.

Employees and employers can find more information on the procedures for worker health and vocational safety on the ministry’s website.

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Egypt Govt Pledges Wage Hikes, Relief for Citizens

A woman prepares traditional Egyptian butter cookies known as "Kahk", to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt, March 23, 2025. (Reuters)
A woman prepares traditional Egyptian butter cookies known as "Kahk", to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt, March 23, 2025. (Reuters)
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Egypt Govt Pledges Wage Hikes, Relief for Citizens

A woman prepares traditional Egyptian butter cookies known as "Kahk", to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt, March 23, 2025. (Reuters)
A woman prepares traditional Egyptian butter cookies known as "Kahk", to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt, March 23, 2025. (Reuters)

The Egyptian government has pledged to improve wages and ease the financial burden on citizens by raising the minimum wage to 7,000 Egyptian pounds (1 USD = 50.45 EGP in banks) starting from the new fiscal year in July 2025.

In its proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the government allocated an 18.1% increase in wage provisions, totaling 671 billion pounds to fund the new salary increases.

This includes a 10% increase in the periodic allowance for civil service law employees and a 15% increase for non-civil service employees, with a minimum increase of 150 pounds per month, according to Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk's statement on Monday.

The government measures also include raising the “cost of living allowance” from 600 to 1,000 pounds and increasing the additional incentive by 300 pounds across all job grades.

This will result in a minimum monthly salary increase of 1,100 pounds for the lowest job grade, boosting overall wages.

While welcoming the increase in the minimum wage, Samira Al-Jazzar, a member of the parliamentary plan and budget committee, called on the government to take further steps to ensure citizens benefit from the wage hikes.

She stressed the need to regulate markets and implement strict measures against price manipulators.

Al-Jazzar expressed concerns about potential price hikes, which could lead to a rise in inflation again.

She told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government should have pursued multiple strategies to address this issue.

The lawmaker also emphasized the importance of expanding production, which she believes would gradually reduce prices.

Economic expert Karim Al-Omda told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new wage increases are a preemptive move by the government to mitigate public anger over expected rises in fuel and service prices.

The government plans to raise fuel prices three times by the end of this year as part of a fuel subsidy reduction strategy under the economic reform program agreed with the International Monetary Fund, which secured a $12 billion loan, according to statements from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Al-Omda urged the government to accelerate improvements in the education and healthcare sectors to genuinely enhance citizens' lives.

He highlighted the urgency of speeding up the implementation of the "comprehensive health insurance" system and making substantial reforms to the education system.

The Ministry of Finance has pledged to allocate the necessary funds to hire over 75,000 teachers, 30,000 doctors, and 10,000 other personnel in various government sectors in the upcoming fiscal year.