Member of Parliament Maha Abdel Nasser submitted a briefing request on Thursday, 5 January, urging the government to regulate the delivery sector and provide legal and insurance protections for its workers, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party said in a statement.
In her request, Abdel Nasser said delivery workers face high occupational risks while working largely without legal cover or social insurance, despite the rapid expansion of delivery services across Egypt.
She defined delivery workers as individuals delivering goods and services through digital platforms, restaurants, shops, intermediary offices, or independently, using motorcycles, bicycles, or cars, often under flexible or irregular work arrangements.
Citing data from the Ministry of Social Solidarity’s “Your Way is Safe” initiative launched in August 2022, Abdel Nasser said Egypt has at least six million delivery workers, noting the figure may have increased since then.
According to data referenced in the briefing request, 63 percent of delivery workers have been exposed to accidents or injuries while working, while only 2 percent received compensation. The data also showed that 80 percent work without written contracts, 97 percent lack social insurance, and only 12 percent have any form of health insurance.
Additional figures indicated that 48 percent were forced to sign trust receipts or promissory notes, 54 percent faced wage deductions, and 21.5 percent were subjected to unfair dismissal.
Abdel Nasser pointed to gaps in the implementation of Labour Law No. 14 of 2025, which introduced provisions for new work patterns. While Article 99 requires work relationships to be governed by written contracts, she said many delivery workers are classified as “service providers,” limiting their access to legal protections.
She also said promised executive regulations to organise the sector have yet to be issued, despite previous statements by the Ministry of Labour.
The MP further questioned the effectiveness of safety campaigns targeting delivery workers, citing a lack of publicly available data on enforcement, inspections, and penalties.
Abdel Nasser called on the government to clarify the measures taken to enforce labour protections for delivery workers and ensure their inclusion under existing labour laws.
Delivery services have expanded rapidly in Egypt in recent years, driven by the growth of food delivery apps, e-commerce, and informal gig work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for delivery services surged by around 230 percent. The sector largely operates outside formal employment frameworks, with most workers classified as independent contractors rather than employees.
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