'Don't let me see you again': Egypt minister sacks man at jobs event

Egypt's minister for the lowly office of supplies and internal trade has come under fire for publicly lashing out and firing a technician at a jobs creation event.

Ali al-Meselhy's stunning rebuke came at a Monday news conference organised to announce the second phase of a national "shopping centre" project, aimed at "boosting employment" and access to basic necessities.

However, the conference apparently ended with one more unemployed Egyptian, after Meselhy turned on a technician for a microphone malfunction.

Meselhy picked up a second microphone, and asked: "Who was responsible for the sound system?"

When the technician made himself known to Meselhy, the minister responded by telling him to "see himself out".  

"Don't let me see you again," he added, the implication being he was firing the assistant. 

Social media users responded to Meselhy "kicking out" the technician, using the Arabic hashtag #DontLetMeSeeYouAgain

Translation: God damn the shamelessness… I wish that we could not see this minister ever again.

Translation: See yourself out and leave your family with even a bit of pride, because you are an indecent minister by expelling someone in this way.

Users pointed out that the minister himself hasn't been doing a good job 'supplying' Egyptians with what they need.

Translation: And this is what bread looks like in Egypt oh minister of supplies.

Meselhy has been the subject of criticism from Egyptians, as inflation hits record levels in the country, and many struggle to afford food.

The country has seen protests in recent weeks demanding an increase in wages, which have remained extremely low.

Public sector workers were promised a 10 percent rise in June by the president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, but factory workers were later told they would not get one.

The inflation rate in Egypt is the highest it has reached since the flotation of the Egyptian pound in November.