House Defense and National Security Committee, National Security Council, army

LEGISLATION WATCH- House committee approves adding real estate taxes to unified filing platform: The House Planning and Budgeting Committee has approved a proposal from Rep. Mervat Alexan to include real estate taxes on the planned single tax filing platform that will be finalized after the under discussion Unified Tax Act passes the House, Al Mal reported. The platform had previously been expected to only allow taxpayers to file income tax, stamp tax and VAT returns. The House committee started discussing the bill earlier this week. It’s still unclear when the discussions will wrap up ahead of a final vote in the general assembly.

Naming and shaming tax evaders: The Planning Committee also approved amendments to the Unified Tax Act that would publicly publish the names of convicted tax evaders, Masrawy reported.

The House approved amendments to the law governing compensation for state-employed medical workers in light of the covid-19 pandemic, Masrawy reported separately. Doctors will now receive additional allowances of EGP 1,225 per month, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians and physiotherapists will receive an extra EGP 875 per month, nurses, chemists and physicists will receive a EGP 790 top-up each month, and nursing and healthcare technicians will receive EGP 700 per month.

The House approved a draft law prohibiting army officers from seeking public office without approval from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Al Masry Al Youm reported. The House Defense and National Security Committee also discussed the law regulating the National Security Council, which affirmed the army’s role in protecting the state and safeguarding its civil nature, Masrawy also reported. The international press is taking note: AFP | The National.

Religious Affairs Committee approves establishing charitable endowment fund: Parliament’s Religious Affairs and Endowments Committee has approved in principle a bill establishing a charitable endowments fund based in Cairo, according to Mubasher. The fund, which would fall under Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly’s purview, will target a wide range of causes including infrastructure development projects, child poverty reduction and support for cultural institutions.