Strengthening Labour Relations and their Institutions in Egypt (Better Work)

Background Information

The Strengthening Labour Relations and Institutions in Egypt (SLARIE) projec was launched in March 2020 under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly. The project is dedicated to promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining rights throughout Egypt. This initiative plays a crucial role in fostering an environment conducive to sound labour relations and inclusive growth.

SLARIE focuses on three main components:

1. Promoting and enforcing freedom of association and collective bargaining rights in both law and practice.
2. Establishing an enabling environment for sound labour relations.
3. Better Work Egypt Programme: Enhancing business opportunities in the textile and ready-made garment (RMG) sector by improving labour relations and compliance with international labour standards and national laws.

Through these efforts, SLARIE targets the textile and ready-made garment sector by fostering an enabling environment for effective labour relations and inclusive social dialogue through Better Work Egypt Programme.

Better Work is a partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The ILO flagship programme (Better Work) brings together stakeholders from all levels of the global garment manufacturing industry to improve working conditions, enhance respect for labour rights, and boost competitiveness.

Better Work has been operating in different forms in Egypt since 2017 – first as a pilot programme (2017-2019) and most recently as one outcome under the broader Strengthening Labour Relations and its Institutions (SLARIE) project (2020-2022). The SLARIE project seeks to improve the environment for freedom of association and social dialogue across Egypt, while the Better Work Egypt component focuses this work on improving working conditions in the garment sector.

Strategy

Better Work Egypt Programme operates under and aligns its strategic direction with the global strategy of Better Work. Better Work Egypt’s 2022-2027 strategic phase will work to achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1

By 2027, compliance and business outcomes will have improved in registered factories through applying Better Work’s factory engagement model in collaboration with social partners.

Outcome 2

By 2027, quality gender-transformative social dialogue at the enterprise and sectoral levels – including through workplace committees, unions, and sectoral meetings – will be achieved and sustained.

Outcome 3

By 2027, increased transparency and knowledge of issues through data and evidence sharing and convening around results will improve evidence-based policymaking.

Partners

• Government
• Workers & Unions
• Employers
• Brands and retailers

Programme in numbers

• 61 Factories
• 61,000 Workers in registered factories
• 35 International buyers

The aim of Better Work Egypt is to create a more competitive Egyptian garment industry with decent working conditions driven by improved social dialogue at the factory and sectoral level.

For more information:

https://betterwork.org/egypt/