A powerful explosion rocked the Police Academy in Cairo's Fifth Settlement area, resulting in the deaths of a police officer and two security personnel, according to the Egyptian ministry of interior.
The blast, which occurred at about midnight local time, was attributed to a gas leak during maintenance work in a storage centre in an open area within the academy grounds. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion that reverberated throughout the surrounding area.
The ministry confirmed the casualties, saying that “a gas explosion occurred during maintenance work in one of the warehouses on an open area inside the Police Academy, resulting in the death of a police officer and two individuals”.
As news of the incident spread, Egyptians took to social media to express their shock and sadness.
Reactions among the populace varied, with some expressing grief over the loss of life, while others called for greater transparency from the government regarding the details of the explosion, which remain very scant.
The Police Academy, in the eastern part of the Egyptian capital, is a prominent training centre for law enforcement personnel.
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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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