It was another econ-heavy day in the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday: The Manpower Minister chimed in on a Senate debate about integrating the informal economy, while both MPs and senators cheered the budget cuts announced by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly earlier this week — and asked for the government to go further on austerity.

Domestic workers could soon need licenses in bid to formalize the industry: The Manpower Ministry is preparing a draft law that would bring domestic workers into the formal economy, Manpower Minister Hassan Shehata told the Senate yesterday, according to a ministry statement. Shehata said the draft bill would see those working for private households trained and licensed by the ministry, without giving any more details.

Part of the push to integrate informal workers: Shehata announced the draft bill during the second day of the Senate’s two-day debate on a study prepared by senator and business leader Ahmed Abu Hashima on integrating the informal economy. The minister called Abu Hashmia’s ideas “realistic and implementable.” He also highlighted ongoing government efforts to formalize sectors of the economy, including through the new draft labor law making its way through the House and a national employment strategy that the ministry is drafting.

AND- Legislators want gov’t budget cuts to go further + faster: Several MPs and senators welcomed the budget cuts and freezes on some state spending in hard currency announced earlier this week — but also said the move had come too late and urged the government to make further cutbacks and implement more fiscal discipline. Senator Mahmoud Sami, spokesperson for the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, called for “less spending on mega national projects which are of no priority and require significant FX allocations,” cuts to the salaries of high-paid government officials and consultants, and the postponement of expensive conferences like the World Youth Forum while global economic turmoil lasts.

The Senate has adjourned and will reconvene on Sunday, 22 January.