Egypt announces minimum wage increase for private sector, new minimum wage for part timers

Cairo – February 10, 2025: The National Council of Wages (NCW) has revealed a 17 percent increase in the minimum wage for private sector workers, raising it to LE 7,000 ($139) per month, starting March 1, 2025.

In addition to this increase, the NCW has introduced a new minimum wage for part-time workers, further expanding protection for employees across the country.

For the first time, part-time workers will receive at least LE 28 ($0.56) per hour, in accordance with the Labor Law.

The NCW meeting also confirmed that private sector workers will be entitled to an annual raise of at least 3 percent of their social insurance wage, with a floor of LE 250 per month.

This new policy establishes a minimum hourly wage for part-time workers, ensuring that those in flexible employment arrangements are also fairly compensated.

This increase marks the sixth wage adjustment in the last three years. Previous increases include a jump from LE 2,400 in January 2022 to LE 3,500 in January 2024, with the most recent increase taking place in April 2024, when the wage was raised from LE 3,500 to LE 6,000.

Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, explained that the wage increase is a response to current economic challenges, including rising food price inflation driven by the war in Ukraine and declining Suez Canal revenues due to Houthi strikes.

The new wage policy aligns with international standards, with Al-Mashat noting that the International Labor Organization recommends periodic adjustments to the minimum wage to protect household purchasing power amidst shifting economic conditions.

Introduced in January 2022, Egypt’s minimum wage policy has progressively increased to support low-income workers. With the latest raise, the Egyptian government continues its efforts to address the impact of economic inflation on vulnerable segments of the population.