To standardize external employment procedures and strengthen support for Egyptian workers seeking employment abroad, the Ministry of Labour, in close cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), launched Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under the European Union-funded “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa” (THAMM Plus) programme.

Aligned with national legislation and informed by international labour standards and fair recruitment principles, the SOPs aim to improve service efficiency and coordination while safeguarding workers’ rights and promoting fair recruitment.

They cover four interconnected areas: identifying employment opportunities abroad; supporting workers before departure and during employment abroad; regulating and overseeing private employment agencies; and handling complaints concerning recruitment agencies and employers. By defining clear procedures, responsibilities, standardized forms and process flowcharts, the SOPs provide Ministry staff with a common operational reference.

During the opening remarks, Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad affirmed that the SOPs’ “launch represents an important step towards strengthening Egypt’s system for the employment of Egyptian workers abroad, facilitating their mobility, enhancing their protection and welfare, and safeguarding their rights, in line with legislative developments and the needs of international labour markets. This comes in implementation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to protect and support Egyptian citizens at home and abroad, provide decent work opportunities, and open new prospects for Egyptian talent around the world.” The launch represents an important step towards strengthening Egypt’s system for the employment of Egyptian workers abroad.

ILO Cairo Director, Eric Oechslin, highlighted that “this work forms part of the ILO’s broader efforts to advance fair recruitment: preventing abusive practices, protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that recruitment provides a pathway to decent work. Effective governance requires clear legal protections, practical procedures and institutions equipped to apply them.” He continued, “Stronger requirements for private recruitment agencies and clearer prohibitions on abusive practices provide an important foundation. The SOPs help carry these protections into the Ministry’s everyday work.” This work forms part of the ILO’s broader efforts to advance fair recruitment.

The Delegation of the European Union to the Arab Republic of Egypt, represented by Dr. Sébastien Lorion, Team Leader for Social Inclusion, Governance and Migration, commended the Ministry of Labour for the adoption of the SOPs. He underlined that “the development of clear, structured and transparent procedures for external employment is a significant step towards ensuring that Egyptian workers can access employment opportunities abroad through safe, regular and well-managed channels, while responding effectively to the evolving needs of international labour markets – including the European market.”