[Egypt] Meeza cards replace payroll cards for 4.3m state employees

In Egypt, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait has announced that Meeza cards will replace the payroll cards of 4.3 million state employees by the end of the month, Zawya reports.

According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), there are approximately six million state employees in the country.

Meeza is Egypt’s national payment system and part of the government’s strategy geared towards digital transformation and financial inclusion.

Meeza cards are issued in cooperation with the country’s banking system, including Banque Misr, the National Bank of Egypt, Housing and Development Bank, Arab African International Bank, Emirates NBD, Banque du Caire, Arab Banking Corporation, the United Bank and the Commercial International Bank, in addition to Egypt’s Post Authority, Maait said.

Using Meeza will reportedly reduce currency issuance by 25 per cent, save half the time needed to conduct a service and decrease procedures. The change is expected to contribute to the advancement of Egypt’s rank in the international indices concerning doing business and transparency.

The system provides all banking services, including deposits, withdrawals and other transactions. It also allows employees to pay government dues using cashless methods and the online point of sale system (PoS).

Additionally, state employees can withdraw, in advance and free of charge, up to 30 per cent of their salary during the first six months of using Meeza.

The service is only available for online shopping and at PoS. Cash withdrawals are not allowed.

The withdrawn sum will be repaid through deducted monthly instalments on the 15th of every month.

In September 2018, Egypt’s National Council of Payments issued Resolution 2/2018 that approved the adoption of a national trademark payment system to disburse governmental payments as well as in-kind and cash subsidy disbursements.

In 2020, circular 133/2020 was sent to accounting units in state bodies clarifying the required procedures in preparation for the system launch.

In Egypt, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait has announced that Meeza cards will replace the payroll cards of 4.3 million state employees by the end of the month, Zawya reports.

According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), there are approximately six million state employees in the country.

Meeza is Egypt’s national payment system and part of the government’s strategy geared towards digital transformation and financial inclusion.

Meeza cards are issued in cooperation with the country’s banking system, including Banque Misr, the National Bank of Egypt, Housing and Development Bank, Arab African International Bank, Emirates NBD, Banque du Caire, Arab Banking Corporation, the United Bank and the Commercial International Bank, in addition to Egypt’s Post Authority, Maait said.

Using Meeza will reportedly reduce currency issuance by 25 per cent, save half the time needed to conduct a service and decrease procedures. The change is expected to contribute to the advancement of Egypt’s rank in the international indices concerning doing business and transparency.

The system provides all banking services, including deposits, withdrawals and other transactions. It also allows employees to pay government dues using cashless methods and the online point of sale system (PoS).

Additionally, state employees can withdraw, in advance and free of charge, up to 30 per cent of their salary during the first six months of using Meeza.

The service is only available for online shopping and at PoS. Cash withdrawals are not allowed.

The withdrawn sum will be repaid through deducted monthly instalments on the 15th of every month.

In September 2018, Egypt’s National Council of Payments issued Resolution 2/2018 that approved the adoption of a national trademark payment system to disburse governmental payments as well as in-kind and cash subsidy disbursements.

In 2020, circular 133/2020 was sent to accounting units in state bodies clarifying the required procedures in preparation for the system launch.