Egypt's private-sector workers will be allowed to take Sunday and Monday as paid holiday this year on the occasion of Eid El-Fitr, Minister of Manpower Mohamed Safaan said on Tuesday.

According to state-run news agency MENA, which carried Safaan's announcement, the annual three-day holiday starts on Sunday 25 June this year.

Public sector employees in ministries, governmental authorities, and other state-owned institutions will take three days of paid holiday.

However, most private-sector workers are normally granted just two days of paid holiday.

Eid El-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

However, the date of Eid al-Fitr changes each year, being calculated according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

Egyptian government officials traditionally announce the dates for Eid El-Fitr several days in advance, once they are known.