Egypt not enrolled in blacklist of states violating labor rights due to ‘safe market’: MP

CAIRO – 1 June 2022: Parliamentarian Abdel Abdel Fadil said that Egypt is absent of “the black list” of countries accused of violating provisions of international labor agreements, and that is an indication of the safe labor market in the country.

“Egypt is committed to implementing all international agreements signed regarding labor rights, which amount to 67 agreements,” Abdel Fadil, who is the head of the Manpower Committee in the House of Representatives, said on TV show.

He pointed out that Egyptian legislation is compatible with these agreements, the most recent of which is the Labor Law, which has been discussed at the Senate, and is now pending discussion at the House of Representatives.

MP Abdel Fadil explained that any shortcomings mentioned in the previous Labor Law were corrected.

“The state pays great attention to the Egyptian worker, creating a suitable environment for work, and achieving job security to preserve the rights of both the worker and the employer,” he added.

He explained that the file of irregular employment is listed on the agenda of the national dialogue platform in order to integrate this category into the official labor market. He added that these steps go along the lines with the directives of the political leadership to assist employment especially after it was affected by the pandemic.

Minister of Manpower Dr. Mohamed Saafan, had stated that the Committee for the Implementation of Conventions “Standards Committee”, emanating from the International Labor Conference in its 110th session held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and the International Labor Organization building, confirmed that Egypt is not on the list of individual cases, while the list included Arab and African countries, as well as other 22 member states of the organization.

According to the minister, the reasons for Egypt’s absence of the list are the efforts made by the ministry to enhance compliance with international labor standards, including the decisions of the Minister of Manpower issued in 2022 regarding mediation, collective bargaining and protection of the right to organize.

Besides, the minister referred to the important legislative developments that have taken place in Egypt, including the Law on Trade Union Organizations, the draft Labor Law, and many ministerial decisions that enhance Egypt’s compliance with international labor standards, such as: Resolutions Nos. 43 and 44 for the year 2021 on the employment of women, launching the National Plan for Gender Equality at Work and activating the Supreme Council for Social Dialogue.