Starting work at five in the morning in Egypt: A parliamentary proposal sparks controversy

A member of the Egyptian House of Representatives, Amal Abdel Hamid, has sparked widespread controversy with her new proposal to amend official working hours to start at five in the morning and end at twelve noon.

This proposal, which has caused a significant uproar in both popular and official circles, has received mixed reactions between supporters and opponents, with some doctors supporting it as having significant health benefits.

Deputy Amal Abdel Hamid confirmed that adjusting working hours in this way will increase job performance efficiency and help achieve family stability by giving employees more time to spend with their families in the afternoon, which enhances family bonding.

She pointed out that scientific studies support the idea of waking up early and working in the early morning, as it has a positive impact on increasing employee productivity and avoiding lethargy resulting from staying up late and lack of sleep.

On the other hand, the proposal clarified that adjusting working hours will contribute to rationalizing energy consumption and reducing traffic congestion that dominates the streets of Cairo and major cities in Egypt, in addition to improving the overall quality of life.

Psychiatric consultant Dr. Jamal Farweez praised the proposal, describing it as "a very good idea," considering that the adjustment period is essential for adopting this new system naturally.

Farweez confirmed that starting work early positively reflects on the psychological state of employees, due to the activation of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which enhance feelings of happiness and relaxation in the early morning hours.

In the same context, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Halim Al-Tantawi, a professor of neurology at Mansoura University, pointed out that the proposed working hours align with the body's biological clock, which contributes to enhancing heart, brain, and circulatory health.

Al-Tantawi mentioned that waking up early, especially starting from the Fajr prayer, helps in preventing heart and brain strokes, citing experiences from European medical centers that recommend starting the day early as part of a preventive health program.

The biggest challenge remains in the community's acceptance of this change and adapting to it, but health experts confirm that the health and productivity results will be positive over time, which may make early work a new lifestyle in Egypt.