Official from National Dialogue: We prioritize Labor Law, integration of irregular employment in formal economy

CAIRO - 21 May 2023: Assistant rapporteur for the civil society and syndicates subcommittee Magdy al-Badawi confirmed that the Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue is moving according to deliberate steps, until it finally reaches a strong form of dialogue, to achieve the desired goals

Badawi pointed out that the civil society and syndicates subcommittee receives suggestions from all political forces participating in the dialogue, and confirmed these suggestions will be thoroughly studied. He also stressed that all parties should put the national interest first, so that this dialogue reflects the New Republic established by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Badawi explained that the Workers' Union identified several key issues that have been placed on the agenda of the committee, including the Labor Law, that has been discussed for a long time in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“We need to get the Labor Law approved through the National Dialogue, and the law should be based on a new philosophy to achieve job security for workers through the creation of sound employment contracts, and the existence of labor courts to quickly adjudicate Labor claims. This especially comes in light of the expansion of the private sector and the restructuring of the public sector on bases of agreement between the government, employers and workers,” Badawi stated.

On the issue of irregular employment,  Badawi said it is widely agreed that a labor law file must be allocated for this category, to turn it into a fundamental pillar of the Egyptian economy.

He also shed light on the issue of vocational training that needs to be looked at from a new perspective, further explaining that the training centers working with the 70s and 80s standards should be developed, and that training should become a national project in the coming period.

Moreover, the official noted that the committee attaches great importance to the issue of empowering women, and ending their oppression at the workplace, highlighting the efforts exerted by the president to include women in all fields and make such a huge change for their favor in the trade union law.

Badawi also underscored the challenges faced by professional unions, as each has its own primitive law that dates back to the last century, and consequently needs to be amended.

The official stated that the committee has received many proposals to develop new mechanisms to ensure the application of the minimum wage in the private sector. "It is not logical that the minimum wage in the private sector is LE 2700 and LE 3600 in the administrative apparatus, especially in light of the economic conditions witnessed by the country, in which the state is trying to provide the necessary support to the neediest groups."