The newly enacted Egyptian Labor Law
The New Egyptian Labor Law
The newly enacted Egyptian Labor Law of 2021 represents a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to promote equitable and ethical labor practices within the country. This legislation marks a substantial revision of the prior Labor Law of 2003. It aims to preserve the rights of both parties in order to guarantee the interest of work and workers' rights simultaneously both in the public and private sectors. It also aims to create an attractive investment climate by balancing the two sides of the productive process, adopting a new economic policy in the field of employment, adjudicating labour disputes and achieving fair justice.
Reduction of working hours for certain individuals
The new law includes the reduction of daily working hours to one hour, as of the basic dates, and benefits from the following categories:
Individuals with physical disabilities.
Parents of a disabled child.
A mother breastfeeding her child, until they reach the age of two.
Disabled secondary relatives of employees.
Contract termination
Moreover, it also stipulates that if the employer terminates the indefinite contract for an unlawful reason, the worker has the right to compensation for damage caused by such termination by two months' pay for each year of service, without prejudice to the worker's right to claim the rest of his legally-established rights.
According to the bill, it is not considered a legitimate and sufficient justification for terminating an indefinite employment contract for the following reasons:
A worker's association with a trade union organization or participation in trade union activity within the scope of this Law.
Pursuing the status of labor commissioner.
lodge a complaint, initiate an action against the employer, or participate in such a complaint against the employer's violation of laws, regulations or employment contracts.
Signature of the employee's entitlements under the hands of the employer.
Use of the worker's right to leave granted to him in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Colour, sex, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion or political opinion.
Other provisions in the new law
Prohibition of the dismissal of a female employee during the period of delivery and granting her 3 months' leave paid.
The period between the beginning and the end of the working hours shall not exceed 10 hours per day, and the rest period of the hours of presence shall be calculated.
Granting a full day's paternity leave to a worker in the event of the birth of a child
Canceling form (6) of the insurance which was previously used to threaten to fire individuals.
