Minister of Manpower and Immigration Aisha Abdel-Hadi on Wednesday17/1/2007 said the constitutional changes proposed by President Hosni Mubarak a few months ago constitue a historical step in the life of the people of Egypt and a qualitative shift in the country's political life.

In an interview with MENA she predicted that the planned constitutional amendments would support the government institutions and step up the performance of the political and executive powers in the country.

She said those would-be changes are the fruit of the dialogue that the Egyptian community has been engaged in for nearly a year or more, ever since President Mubarak suggested the broad lines for constitutional amendments in his election platform last summer.

The minister said the economic reforms that have been going on in the country over the past period have had their good impact on the labour market and job opportunities.

She also talked about the way her ministry was working to fight illegal immigration and protect the rights of Egyptian workers inside and outside the country.