Egypt, Libya sign e-linkage protocol to regulate Egyptian workers' access: Min.

CAIRO - 6 February 2021: Manpower Minister Mohamed Saafan said the Egyptian-Libyan technical committee signed an e-linkage protocol between the two countries to facilitate workers' movement.

In a statement on Friday, Saafan stressed the importance of the e-linkage mechanism between the two countries as it will regulate Egyptian workers' access the Libyan labor market legally in accordance with the law.

Saafan said the launch of this mechanism will ensure the return of Egyptian workers to Libya soon.

On June 17, Libyan Minister of Labor and Rehabilitation Ali al-Abdel al-Rida affirmed his country’s readiness to receive Egyptian workers wishing to work in Libya.

He said the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower will publish the job announcements, after contacting the Libyan side, which determines the sectors that need to hire workers from Egypt.

In statements to Egypt Today, he said that the Libyan National Unity Government is currently working to settle the conditions of Egyptian workers who entered Libyan illegally.

He further warned workers who wish to work in Libya to avoid dealing with brokerage offices so as not to be defrauded.

He pointed out that the workers who enter Libya illegally make them prey to criminal gangs, pointing out that the Government of National Unity wishes to regulate the entry of Egyptian workers legally through the Libyan Ministries of Labor and the Egyptian Manpower.

“The Libyan market is open and accommodates very large numbers of workers,” Minister Ali Al-Abed said adding that determining the size of the numbers of targeted workers depends on the return of direct air traffic from various Egyptian airports to Libya.

“The Egyptian worker is very welcome in Libya as he has the skills and experience that enables him to fulfill the work assigned to him,” Al-Abed added.

On April 20, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli headed for Tripoli, Libya, leading a delegation comprising 11 ministers, head of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and several representatives of bodies concerned and investors.

The delegation groups the ministers of electricity and renewable energy, oil and mineral wealth, manpower, education, international cooperation, health, information technology and communication, housing, transport, civil aviation, and trade and industry.

The Egyptian premier is expected to meet with the Head of the Libyan Unity Government Abdul Hamid al-Dbaiba for talks on a set of issues and files of mutual concern along with means of boosting cooperation in all fields.

In March, it was reported that Libyan Presidential Council Head Mohammad Younes Menfi reached an agreement with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Sisi on the reopening of the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli, which was closed more than six years ago due to disagreements between Cairo and the former government in western Libya.