Egypt could raise public sector pay

New Delhi: Egypt's government is looking at a significant rise in public sector salaries and has no more plans at the moment for steps to tame inflation, its Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohammad Rachid said on Tuesday.

Egypt's urban consumer inflation soared to its highest rate in over three years in March as food prices jumped, and it has faced a wave of labour protests over wages culminating in a riot last week in the textile town of Mahalla Al Kubra.

"What we are looking at now is a significant increase in salaries for the government, and pensions schemes," Rachid, who is leading a business delegation to India, said.

Asked about textile workers' salaries, he said: "No. We are looking at an overall increase of salaries."