Egypt and ILO launch first labour legal assistance office

© ILO

© ILO

Cairo, Egypt (ILO News)– In collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the International Labour Organization (ILO) has supported the establishment of the country’s first labour legal assistance office at the North Cairo Primary Court in Abbasseya, Cairo. The initiative is part of the Advancing the Decent Work Agenda in North Africa (ADWA’) project, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The newly launched legal assistance office will provide free legal support to workers, helping them navigate judicial processes, prepare necessary documentation, and facilitate dialogue with trade unions and employers to resolve disputes efficiently.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the ILO Cairo Office, reaffirming their joint commitment to strengthening workers’ rights and improving access to justice. Representing Minister of Justice Counsellor Adnan Al-Fangary, the event was attended by Counsellor Tarek Harbi, Assistant Minister of Justice for Specialized Courts Affairs, and Counsellor Rabie Qassem, Assistant Minister of Justice for Affairs of the General Authority for Court Buildings. Also in attendance were Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office; Valentine Offenloch, ADWA’ Project Manager; and Counsellor Yasser Hussein, President of the North Cairo Primary Court.

Eric Oechslin remarked: “I am honoured to witness the deep collaboration between the ILO and Egypt’s Ministry of Justice. The ILO is the only tripartite UN agency, giving equal voice to governments, employers, and workers. This unique structure is essential in promoting balanced and effective labour policies. We are committed to continuing our support for the development of labour laws and to providing ILO resources and global expertise to ensure the success and sustainability of labour legal assistance offices."

From her side, Valentine Offenloch added: “The ADWA’ project takes a holistic approach to labour justice and international labour standards. The launch of the labour legal assistance offices, alongside the newly established e-learning platform of the National Centre for Judicial Studies (e-NCJS), reflects this comprehensive strategy".