Business tycoon Naguib Sawiris denied having reduced the salaries of his employees due to the coronavirus crisis.
Sawiris said he had only mentioned that some companies may resort to reducing their employees’ salaries if the ongoing crisis continues for a long period of time, stressing that he has not and will not reduce the salaries of his employees.
Sawiris added in an interview with the television channel Sky News that he does not wish to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic, but that at the same time he is wary of what he called “corona-phobia”.
Sawiris added during the interview that the suspension of work for months in Egypt because of the pandemic was “unreasonable,” because Egypt would not be able to bear its consequences.
He called for finding a means by which Egypt could return to work while still preserving the safety of employees.
Sawiris stated that he is committed to the curfew decision, and has instructed his employees to abide by it and to work from home.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
