Labor law amendments on women, children

CAIRO - 3 September 2018: The Legislative Committee at the parliament is finalizing the amendments to labor law articles concerned with women and children. The draft would be submitted to the secretariat after the fourth parliamentary session starts in October for it to be discussed in the general assembly.

The amendments that would impact 26 million citizens in the private sector and non-governmental institutions are:

- Maternity leaves are up to four years instead of two. However, that is possible only twice instead of three.

- Pregnant women, at least starting the sixth month, have the right to work an hour less.
Women must not work additional hours throughout pregnancy and the first six months after delivery.

- Starting the age of 13, children can work as interns without any possible disruptions to their education.

- Employers must give those children identity cards having their photos to prove they work as interns.

- It is prohibited to hire children below the age of 15.

- Work hours for children interns must not exceed six hours with breaks summing up to six hours.

- It is prohibited to make children work additional hours or in the weekends and official holidays.

- It is prohibited to make children work any time between 19:00 and 7:00.