CAIRO: The Egyptian government on Thursday, in an effort to alleviate the growing workers strikes, and people's demands for job opportunities, as the Ministry of Transportation said it would grant tenure to all temporary employees in the Egyptian Company for the Metro Management & Operation and settle cases of staff members who received higher qualification while in service, said Minister Atef Abd al-Hamid in statements to the state-run news agency MENA. He added that the decision includes workers who have been contract workers for more than one year, while those whose contract is less than a year ago will also receive permanent contracts after passing employee training programs and tests. He pointed out that privileges apply to both temporary and permanent employees. The move is unlikely to dissuade strikes and protests in the country, with expected millions to take to the streets across Egypt to demand an end to President Hosni Mubarak's regime. BM