A draft bill to permit the automatic dismissal of civil servants with proven ties to the Ikhwan won initial approval from the House of Representatives yesterday, Masrawy reports. The amendments have been sent to the State Council ahead of a final general assembly vote in an upcoming plenary session.

About the bill: The amendments to the Civil Service Act would allow those with suspected links with any terrorist organization to be temporarily suspended from their positions for up to six months and have half of their pay docked while an investigation is conducted. They could also be permanently dismissed if these links are proven. The amendments were introduced on the heels of several rail incidents, which Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir claimed were due to “extremist elements” in the Railways Authority.

IN OTHER LEGISLATION NEWS- Hold up, are our trademark laws getting a revamp? We may see new amendments to current trademark legislation, as a bill has reportedly been submitted to the House of Representatives for their review, according to Al Shorouk. Amendments to the law, proposed back in 2018 by the government, are now being put forward by the House. It’s not yet clear what changes could be in store.

The government could move to install GPS tracking devices on fishing boats under a proposed bill approved by the House Agriculture and Irrigation Committee during a meeting yesterday, the local press reports. The law, designed to promote sustainable seafood production, will soon be shipped to the House of Representatives for discussion.