The Egyptian government doesn’t attempt to interfere with Egyptians expatriates’ salaries or remittances and it doesn’t intend to tax them, according to Egyptian Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs, Soha Gendy.
“The government does not interfere with the salaries of Egyptians abroad, and their remittances are up to them,” the statement, published on the Ministry’s official Facebook page, reads.
Gendy made the remarks a day after local media reported on Deputy Senate Speaker Bahaaeddin Abu Shoka’s presumed proposal to allocate a percentage of Egyptian expats wages for the state. Yet,
“The government does not interfere with the salaries of Egyptians abroad, and their remittances are up to them,” the statement, published on the Ministry’s official Facebook page, reads.
The statement further clarifies that the government could not possibly access the salaries or personal bank accounts of Egyptians, whether in Egypt or abroad.
However, in a phone interview with Egyptian TV host Amr Adib, Abu Shoqqa denied the statements attributed to him, explaining that he only called for legal measures to protect Egyptian expats and their money through regulated procedures as they are part of the country’s “national wealth”.
There are nearly 12 million Egyptians living abroad. Money sent by Egyptians working abroad counts as one of the main sources of foreign currency, along with tourism, exports, and profit from the Suez Canal.
