October 9 set official paid holiday for private sector for celebration of 1973 War victories

CAIRO – 5 October 2025: Minister of Labor, Mohamed Gebran, announced on Sunday that Thursday, October 9, 2025, will be an official paid holiday for private sector workers covered under the provisions of Labor Law No. 14 of 2025.

This comes in lieu of Monday, October 6, 2025, in observance of the anniversary of the October 6 victories (Armed Forces Day).

The Minister clarified that employers retain the right to require employees to work on this day if necessary due to operational needs. In such cases, employees are entitled to double wages in addition to their regular pay, or alternatively, may request a substitute day off. 

This request must be submitted in writing and included in the employee’s official record, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The October War was a joint effort by Egypt and Syria, supported by military, political, and economic backing from Arab nations against Israel in 1973.

The war began on Saturday, October 6, 1973, corresponding to the 10th of Ramadan 1393 AH, with a surprise attack by Egyptian and Syrian forces on Israeli positions in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights.

The war officially ended with the signing of the Disengagement Agreement on May 31, 1974. As part of the agreement, Israel returned the city of Quneitra to Syria and the eastern bank of the Suez Canal to Egypt in exchange for the withdrawal of Egyptian and Syrian forces from the ceasefire line, with the establishment of a UN peacekeeping force to oversee the agreement.

Key outcomes of the war included Egypt regaining full control of the Suez Canal, reclaiming all territories in the Sinai Peninsula, and restoring parts of the Syrian Golan Heights, including Quneitra, to Syrian sovereignty.