The Egyptian Minister of Labor Mohamed Gibran, alongside Chairperson of the National Council for Women, Amel Ammar, chaired the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Partnership Framework between Egypt and the United Nations. The meeting also featured participation from key figures at the Ministry of Labor, including Shaimaa Mahmoud, Head of the Central Administration for Ministerial Affairs, and Omnia Abdelhamid, Technical Assistant to the Minister.
The meeting, held at the council’s headquarters, focused on the women’s empowerment results group, with significant participation from Mervat Al-Alem, UN Women’s representative in Egypt, Shadi Rashid from the Ministry of International Cooperation, and Germain Haddad, Acting Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Egypt.
Gibran, addressing the meeting via video conference, underscored the vital role of collaboration in advancing Egypt’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly those related to labor rights and gender equality. He reiterated Egypt’s commitment to embedding the SDGs into its national plans, emphasizing the Ministry of Labor’s focus on achieving decent work for all, in line with SDG 8 (“Decent Work and Economic Growth”) and SDG 5 (“Gender Equality”).
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the discussion of the “Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment Unit” established within the Ministry of Labor. This unit, chaired by Gibran, aims to empower women economically, balance family obligations with work demands, eliminate workplace discrimination, and promote equal opportunities. The unit also focuses on increasing female workforce participation by providing protections and fostering a safe working environment for both men and women.
Gibran further discussed the efforts of the sub-units in the governorates, with a focus on enhancing the capacity of labor inspectors and occupational health and safety officers to understand gender equality principles and international labor agreements. This includes ensuring that the provisions of the labor law and related regulations are applied effectively to safeguard women workers and foster an equitable work environment. Notably, the ministry is working on issuing a gender-sensitive inspection manual and launching a national plan to promote gender equality in the workplace.
Moreover, the Ministry of Labor is currently advancing discussions on a draft law for domestic workers, aiming to provide legal protection, regulate the sector, and integrate domestic workers into the formal labor market. This includes offering training and certifications, ensuring legal contracts with employers, and facilitating oversight of recruitment agencies.
