Arab Finance: A project for alternative policies at the American University in Cairo, yesterday evening, organized a symposium entitled “The new labor law: A guarantee of work rights or a privilege for business owners.
Participants in the meeting discussed the extent of the new labor law achieved the required balance between Workers' rights And the interests of business owners, where the controversy is renewed about the nature of the relationship between the two parties to the productive process, and the limits of protection provided by law for each party, especially in light of the economic and social changes witnessed by the Egyptian labor market.
For her part, Dr. Amal Abdel Hamid, director of the Women's Program at the Union and Workers Services Organization, said during her speech that this law was prepared since 2017 until it was issued in 2025 after the approval of the House The new labor law Before his approval of it, what was responded to, and what the government did not respond to.
Abdel Hamid explained that the new law should have witnessed listening sessions and community dialogue before its approval, but that did not actually happen, as we had previously demanded before the approval of the new law with hearing committees within Parliament that the real workers and stakeholders participate and did not respond to that.
Abdel Hamid indicated that the new labor law No. 14 of 2025 was published in the Official Gazette during this month, and it will be activated after 90 days of its publication in the Official Gazette, pointing out that the new law came after more than 20 years of the old law, which is Law No. 12 of 2003, explaining that the new law includes 289 articles, most notably with regard to wages and job safety.
The new labor law did not provide for the minimum wage
Abdel Hamid stressed that the new labor law should have stipulated the minimum wage while linking it to increased inflation rates, noting that the organization had proposed that the periodic allowance be 7% of the insurance wage, but the government reduced it to 3% of the insurance wage, pointing out that the new law is controlled by the philosophy of old law.
The human rights and expert confirmed in labor issues that the new law allowed the employer the right to renew the work contract, unlike the previous law, which was considered the work contract valid after the passage of 5 years of continuous contract.
Abdel Hamid criticized the exception of homes from the new labor law, calling for their exclusion from legal protection, considering this a blatant discrimination against them.
Abdel Hamid explained that the new law has placed impossible restrictions on the right to strike and also set restrictions on the labor commissioner by calling for his mandate through an official document registered in the real estate month, pointing out that the most prominent advantages of the law is that it canceled the 6 form that ends the work relationship between the parties to the productive process and the employer. The new law also canceled the distinction between workers in the public and private sector regarding the status leave for women.
A community dialogue must be held on the executive regulations
At the end of her speech, Abdel Hamid called for a community dialogue in which all addressees participate in the law to discuss and follow up the executive regulations of the new work law that has not yet been issued strictly on the need to discuss the draft domestic labor law while amending the materials for the temporary work contract between the worker and the employer, as well as amending the materials related to the arbitrary separation, the right to strike and the labor commissioner.
There is a need to support the statistics system to limit irregular employment
While Eng. Ihab Mansour, a member of the House of Representatives, and the representative of the Personality Committee of the Council, said that he offered an amendment of about 50 articles accepted, indicating that despite this, the new law did not meet his ambitions, although there are positive points in the law.
Mansour called for the necessity of supporting the competent devices such as the Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics to limit the irregular employment, pointing out that he demanded that this employment be included in the new work law, but this request was rejected.
The Undersecretary of the Parliamentary Manpower Committee pointed out that the new law included new definitions such as bullying in work and harassment within the work environment, which is good in the new labor law.
Mansour pointed to Article 167, which he considered one of the gains of the new law, which is related to the resignation and which requires accreditation from the administrative authority in order to be acceptable, but he stressed that it should have been added to this article that “the resignation from the competent authority with the knowledge of the worker” depends, and not to leave like this where the employer can submit the resignation of the worker and depends on the administrative authority, so this article must be restricted to the phrase of accreditation of the resignation from the administrative authority “with knowledge The worker.
Mansour explained that the contract for the new law, related to determining the duration of the contract, does not achieve the job security of the worker. Also, the article related to the right to strike in the new law cannot be practically achieved and restrictions are placed on it, despite the fact that Article 15 of the Constitution gives the right to a peaceful strike.
The new law achieves a balance between the interest of the employer
On the other hand, Counselor Ihab Abdel -Ati, the legal advisor to the Minister of Labor, said that the new law achieves a balance between the interest of the employer and the worker, and there is a conviction of the government that this law is good for both parties to the productive worker and the employer at the same time, and that this law was approved in conjunction with Labor Day to be a gift for them, and that there is a community dialogue that has already revolved around the law before it was passed with the General Union of Trade Unions, and a number of unions and committees Pointing out that the post -law stage, which is the stage of executive decisions and the executive regulations will require a community dialogue in which all parties and trade unions participate.
Abdel -Ati added that the new law has advantages and gains for employers, as it guarantees the rights of workers, noting that the reason for the issuance of a new work law is the presence of about 242 stabbings of unconstitutionality of the old labor law.
The Legal Adviser to the Minister of Labor indicated that there are about 40 articles in the new law that were not violated as it is considered one of the constants, and it was not approached by the amendment because of its compatibility with the provisions of the Court of Cassation and the international laws, noting that the old labor law had restrictions as it stipulated that violating the bases of the strike entails the separation of the worker, and this is not present in the new law.
The new law aims to provide a wide protection umbrella for workers, while emphasizing the rights of working women and persons with disabilities, and strengthening their professional and social stability.
Article 70 stipulates the right of a working woman, whether in the government or private sector, in obtaining a three -month -long vacation with a full wage, granted to her three times throughout her service period.
The daily working hours of a pregnant woman also reduce an hour from the sixth month of pregnancy, with a prohibited operation for additional hours during pregnancy until six months after birth.
The new labor law also canceled the use of the “6” form, which was used as a means to arbitrarily separate workers, and this is one of the most prominent gains, as it enhances job stability and prevents unjustified separation.
President Abdel Fattah El -Sisi announced last Saturday his signing of the new labor law, stressing that it represents a qualitative shift in the march of labor rights in Egypt.
Al -Sisi explained during his speech at the celebration of the Labor Day that was held at the headquarters of the Suez Steel Company, that the law guarantees clear gains for workers, establishes the concepts of protection and fairness, and enhances the guarantees of job security, while emphasizing the rights of women working in line with international agreements and covenants.
President Abdel -Fattah El -Sisi also directed the government by completing the preparation of the draft domestic labor law, stressing the necessity of conducting a comprehensive community dialogue around it, in a way that ensures the organization of this important sector and expanding the umbrella of social protection for its workers, especially irregular employment.
For his part, Mohamed Gibran, Minister of Labor, said that President Abdel Fattah El -Sisi’s approval of the new labor law during the celebration of the Labor Day is a historical decision for the benefit of Egyptian workers, noting that the law came out in a balanced manner that takes into account the rights and duties of employers and workers alike.
The Minister of Labor pointed out that one of the most prominent gains of the new law is to accelerate litigation procedures in labor courts, as disputes are decided in a period not exceeding 3 months, compared to the long periods that were previously taken by cases.
It is noteworthy that the “Solutions of Alternative Policies” project is a research project at the American University in Cairo, concerned with submitting general policies proposals to deal with the most important challenges facing Egyptian society, through an in -depth and accurate research process, and extensive consultations with the various sectors concerned. The project provides innovative solutions with a future vision to support the efforts of decision makers in providing public policies aimed at achieving fair development in the areas of economic development, resource management and institutional reform.
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