Women activists slam early retirement plan

Reforms permitting optional early retirement for women from the semi-private industrial sector will result in increased marginalisation of female workers, according to women’s groups. Under a reform package which went into effect on 15 January, women will have the option to retire at age 45 if they have worked for the same company for at least 19 years. Previously, the retirement age for women was set at 50, the same as for men. “This age limit is abominably low,” Iman Bibars, executive director of the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women said. “Essentially, the government is giving companies leeway to push women out of work, while providing them with no real alternative life plans after retirement.” A press release issued by the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights (ECWR) criticised the government for differentiating between the status of men and women. The organisation cited Article 40 of the Egyptian Constitution, which guarantees the equal rights and status of all citizens. Activists have also pointed out that, in low-income families, women may feel pressured to retire early to claim the retirement package to pay off home utilities, outstanding debts, or an offspring's wedding. “What else can you do with a retirement package as low as $7,500?” asked Nihad Abu al-Qumsan of the ECWR. “Unfortunately, the reform only provides new justifications for a culture in which a woman’s income is solely used for solving immediate problems in the home.” Under the reformed laws, both men and women will receive a maximum compensation package of $7,500 and a minimum of $2,900. “Although they will also receive a portion of their salaries, we must bear in mind that Egyptian industrial workers make very, very little money,” Bibars said. “It’s often not enough to deal with the daily costs of life.” In light of Egypt’s considerable economic problems, noted al- Qumsan, “I can hardly see how this reform is going to improve conditions for anyone on the long run.” “The policy further propagates the notion that a woman’s work is unimportant, and thus adds to demeaning the role of women in every domain,” she added. According to the state press, the average wage for factory workers is $52 per month. UN statistics put women’s average wages in the industrial sector at around 70 percent of that of their male counterparts. Despite criticisms from women’s rights groups, however, semi-official daily Al-Ahram praised the reform as being “useful,” reporting that the government had earmarked US $80 million for the scheme. “It is a move in the right direction,” Minister of Labour Aisha Abdel Hadi was quoted as saying. The reform was promised by President Hosni Mubarak during his electoral campaign in September of last year. Egyptian economists say it will grant companies greater freedom and promote privatisation.