The Finance Ministry plans to introduce financial incentives for women not to have more than two children in a bid to manage population growth, according to a cabinet statement yesterday. The ministry is proposing to put EGP 1k into trust every year for every married woman between the ages of 21 and 45 who has a maximum of two children, the statement said. The accumulated savings will be paid out to women who participate in the program once they turn 45, provided they stick to the terms.

What terms? Women must get periodic check-ups at health centers and will forfeit any money they had been eligible to receive if they give birth to a third child. The amount to be paid to each woman will be based on her age at the time she signs up for the project and several other determinants, the statement says, without clarifying further.

ALSO FROM CABINET YESTERDAY-

Ramadan trading hours to kick in next week: Shops, malls, restaurants, cafes, and bazaars will be allowed to stay open until 2am during the month of Ramadan and the Eid Al Fitr holiday, per a cabinet decision. The working hours will come into effect on 22 March.

REMINDER- We’re still running on winter opening hours: Shops and malls must currently close at 10pm (11pm on Thursdays, Fridays and national holidays) while cafes and restaurants shutter at midnight. In summer hours, these businesses can stay open an hour later.

Cabinet also approved:

• A USD 350k bump to a USD 3 mn grant from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development providing technical assistance for upgrades to Cairo Metro Line 1;
• More than 140 projects under the Decent Life Initiative, including waste treatment plants, a governmental services complex, mother-and-child center, hospital, mosque, church, fire stations, and schools;
• Egypt joining the Convention on Nuclear Safety, a multinational treaty that commits members to adhere to certain safety standards at nuclear plants.