Egypt's street vendors face new restrictions
Egypt’s parliament is drafting a law regulating the work of street vendors, which would save street vendors from remaining under the mercy of local authorities.
CAIRO —The Egyptian parliament decided April 15 to prepare a law to unify the authority that issues permits for stores, street vendors and roadside open-air shops in Egypt. The law would end a clash between governmental authorities over new, easy and simple mechanisms that seek to eradicate corruption.
The law aims to merge the unregulated sector with the formal economy under state supervision, according to April 14 press statements by Mohammad al-Dami, the secretary-general of the local administration committee in the Egyptian parliament.
The presence of street vendors has been a major issue in Egypt, and security forces recently launched a wide-scale campaign to remove vendors obstructing traffic in neighborhoods in the Giza and Cairo governorates, specifically in Ataba Square.
Maj. Gen. Gamal Mohyi, the head of Al-Moski district, told the media April 18 that Cairo’s governor gave instructions not to allow the street vendors to return to the square and to the district.
