Egyptian railway workers dealing with passengers to be subject to psychological check-ups as part of periodical training

CAIRO – 11 September 2020: Minister of Transportation Kamel al-Wazir instructed Friday carrying out psychological check-ups on railway workers who deal with passengers - like ticket venders and train supervisors – as part of the periodical training they receive.

The decision comes one day after the supervisor and chief of a train operating between Cairo and Mansoura scolded a conscript for showing neither a ticket nor an Armed Forces train pass. While they were escorting him off the train, a woman bought him a ticket but he insisted to pay her back.

It is noted that the Egyptian Armed Forces pay ahead for conscripts to board trains without having to purchase tickets. In Thursday's case, it seems that the conscript had lost his pass. That is why the minister stated in a phone-in that he had issued a decree instructing supervisors to not ask for the pass as long as the conscript is in the military overall.

The whole situation was videoedtaped by a passenger, and went viral on social media prompting the presidency and the Egyptian Armed Forces to thank the woman as well as a penalty against the train's supervisor and chief by the minister of transportation.

The former and latter were subject to pay cuts equivalent to the wages of 15 days and 50 days, respectively. They would no longer work on passenger trains as they will be only assuming duties on cargo trains. They will also be fined LE4,000 for not putting on face masks, and be subject to drug tests.