International best practices in labour management

Cairo, Egypt (ILO News)– The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), organized a workshop on "Labour Standards and International Best Practices in Labour Management" in Cairo, Egypt.

The event was attended by Cheick-Oumar Sylla, Regional Director of the IFC for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, with the participation of the Ministry of Labour and representatives of the tripartite constituents (workers, employers, and the government). The opening session also featured a recorded statement by H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation.

In his opening remarks, Cheick-Oumar Sylla, Regional Director of the IFC for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, stated that “providing quality jobs in markets contributes to improving living conditions in communities, enhancing social inclusion, and reducing poverty. The IFC supports job creation while ensuring the protection of workers’ rights in accordance with local labour laws and environmental and social standards,” he added.

From his side, Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, highlighted, "We value the partnership with the IFC, which began in 2007 to improve working conditions in the ready-made garments sector through the Better Work Programme. We aim to unify efforts to encourage investment in other sectors, promoting better working conditions and creating decent jobs in Egypt.”

Oechslin continued that, “The ILO is also working closely with the Ministry of Labour in Egypt to strengthen national labour inspection systems and occupational safety and health mechanisms to ensure better and unified implementation of national labour legislation while adhering to international labour standards."

Oechslin also welcomed all participants to join the “Global Coalition for Social Justice”, an initiative by ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo aimed at fostering multilateral cooperation and advancing social justice globally while accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To date, more than 200 partners, including governments, workers' and employers' organisations, and civil society groups, have joined the coalition.

In a related statement, Ehab Abdel-Aaty, Legal Advisor to the Minister of Labour, underscored the importance of collaboration and partnership with the ILO and IFC, noting that Egypt’s labour market is well-positioned to enhance and develop labour market tools amidst ongoing government reforms, particularly in social legislation. He added that the government is currently discussing and preparing a new labour law to achieve the desired balance between production entities and to ensure a stable work environment.

Abdel-Aaty highlighted the availability of legislative tools under a framework of tripartite dialogue involving workers, employers, and the government. He praised the collaboration with the ILO on several initiatives, particularly the Better Work programme, which has delivered tangible results with a positive impact on Egypt's economy, providing a solid foundation for future progress.