Egypt’s Minister of Labor, Hassan Shehata Radad, said Sunday, 30 August, that his ministry was prioritizing efforts to clear obstacles for young Egyptians entering the workforce, with vocational training emerging as a central government focus.
Radad said the government was working to prepare Egyptian workers to compete not only domestically but in Arab and European labor markets, calling training a top priority for improving worker efficiency.
In particular, Egyptians working abroad contributed USD 47.3 billion (EGP 2.4 trillion) in remittances in the fiscal year 2025-2026, up from USD 36.5 billion (EGP 1.8 trillion) in 2024-2025.
Remittances have become a critical source of hard currency for Egypt, driven primarily by Egyptian workers abroad sending money home. In recent years, they have emerged as a pillar of the national economy, now exceeding combined earnings from tourism and the Suez Canal.
The minister pointed to a sharp decline in unemployment in Egypt as evidence of progress, noting that the unemployment rate had fallen from more than 13 percent in 2013-14 to roughly 8 percent today.
He also cited a package of incentives designed to support investors and ease bureaucratic hurdles, including the formation of a dedicated committee within the ministry’s headquarters to assist businesses navigating regulatory challenges.
Radad additionally addressed new general rules governing labor regulations for private-sector companies, describing the measures as part of a broader government program aimed at stabilizing the business environment, encouraging investment, and strengthening job security for workers.
Under the new framework, companies employing 10 or more workers have to issue formal internal labor bylaws, which must be approved by local labor offices. Smaller businesses, with fewer than 10 employees, will be permitted to adopt a simplified version covering basic provisions such as working hours and weekly rest periods.
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