Egypt’s Ministry of Labour, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has launched new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline overseas employment processes, strengthen labour migration governance and protect Egyptian workers seeking jobs abroad.
The initiative was launched under the European Union-funded Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM Plus) program.
The procedures are designed to improve service delivery, strengthen coordination among relevant institutions and promote fair recruitment practices in line with Egyptian legislation and international labour standards.
The SOPs cover four key areas: identifying employment opportunities abroad; providing support to workers before departure and during overseas employment; regulating and supervising private recruitment agencies; and addressing complaints against recruitment agencies and employers.
They also establish clear procedures, defined responsibilities, standardised forms and process flowcharts to guide Ministry of Labour staff in managing overseas employment services.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad described the initiative as an important step towards strengthening Egypt’s overseas employment system, facilitating labour mobility and safeguarding the welfare and rights of Egyptian workers.
He said the initiative aligned with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to protect Egyptian citizens at home and abroad, promote decent work opportunities and expand prospects for Egyptian professionals in international labour markets.
ILO Cairo Director Eric Oechslin said the initiative formed part of the organisation’s broader efforts to promote fair recruitment, prevent abusive practices and ensure that recruitment processes provide workers with access to decent employment.
He stressed that effective labour migration governance required clear legal protections, practical procedures and institutions capable of implementing them.
Oechslin added that stronger regulations for private recruitment agencies and clearer prohibitions against abusive practices would provide an important foundation for protecting workers, while the new procedures would help translate those safeguards into the Ministry’s daily operations.
Representing the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Dr. Sébastien Lorion, Team Leader for Social Inclusion, Governance and Migration, commended the Ministry for adopting the procedures.
He said transparent and structured overseas employment processes would help Egyptian workers access jobs through safe, regular and well-managed channels while responding to the changing needs of international labour markets, including those in Europe.
The procedures were developed through sustained cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and the ILO, building on work initiated during the first phase of the THAMM program.
Consultations and technical reviews informed their revision to reflect Egypt’s Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 and related ministerial decrees before their finalization and launch under the program’s second phase, THAMM Plus.
At the event, members of the Ministry’s team received certificates in recognition of their contributions, while the ILO’s lead consultant for the SOPs, Dr. Magda Asaad, presented an overview of the development process, objectives and key components.
A panel discussion examined how the procedures could improve overseas employment services, strengthen compliance with international labour standards and promote fair recruitment and effective labour migration governance.
The discussions also highlighted the practical measures required to ensure consistent implementation across the relevant institutions.
The event concluded with reflections on next steps, including plans to review and update procedures in response to implementation experience, legislative changes, and digital transformation, to improve overseas employment services and worker protection continually.
(ILO)
