The Senate — Egypt's consultative upper house — approved on Tuesday amendments to the law regulating the performance of the Syndicate of Engineers.

A report prepared by the Senate's Housing Committee said the amended law (66/1964) aims to help the Syndicate of Engineers play a more effective role in modernising engineering works and industries in Egypt.

“The amendments also help the syndicate double its sources of income in order to be able to keep pace with technological progress in engineering sciences, which play an important role in boosting economic and urban development in Egypt,” said the report.

The amendments stipulate that engineers employed by state ministries, public authorities, organisations, and institutions should be members of the Syndicate of Engineers. Persons who will do the job of engineers without having a license from the syndicate will be sentenced to two years in prison and a hefty fine of EGP 100,000.

“Foreign engineers and foreign consultancy offices can get work permits only against a payment of EGP 50,000 and EGP 300,000 respectively,” added the report.

The amended law also states that a pension fund will be established by the Syndicate of Engineers. The resources of the fund will come from annual membership subscriptions, registration fees, state contributions, donations, and profits.

Article 54 states that membership subscriptions will range between EGP 100 and EGP 250 every year.

The Senate approved a proposal aimed at imposing a fee of 20 piasters on each ton of cement and iron steel sales.

“These measures aim to boost the revenues of the Syndicate of Engineers in order to be able to offer good services to members and raise their technical capacities in the form of training courses and professional workshops,” said Senator Ahmed Abu Hashima.

The amended law will be referred to the House of Representatives to be discussed and put up for a final vote.