Labour legal assistance office opened at South Benha Primary Court

Qalyubia, Egypt (ILO News)– As part of ongoing efforts to promote social justice and expand access to legal services, the second labour legal assistance office in the Egyptian court system was inaugurated at the South Benha Primary Court. The event took place under the auspices of Minister of Justice Counsellor Adnan Al-Fangary.

The inauguration was attended by Counsellor Tarek Harbi, Assistant Minister of Justice for Specialized Courts Affairs, and Counsellor Rabie Qassem, Assistant Minister of Justice for the Affairs of Court Buildings; and several senior judicial officials, including Counsellor Mohamed Moawad, President of the Court; Counsellor Moataz Medhat, Deputy President of the Court; Counsellor Dr Reda Ahmed Eid, President of the Shubra El Kheima Court of Appeal; and Counsellor Sherif El Naggar, Member of the Technical Office for Specialized Courts. Also in attendance was Ehab Abdel Aaty, Legal Adviser to the Minister of Labour.

The ILO was represented by Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office; Valentine Offenloch, Project Manager; and Thomas Leiby, International Labour Standards Specialist, as well as other members of the ILO Cairo team.

© Ministry of Justice

© Ministry of Justice

The establishment of the office reflects the strong partnership between the Ministry of Justice and the ILO through the ADWA’ project—Advancing the Decent Work Agenda in North Africa— funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, which aims to strengthen the capacity of North African countries to effectively apply international labour standards and adopt policies that promote decent work.

In his remarks, Counsellor Tarek Harbi affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing accessible, free and efficient legal services to workers and employers alike. These services include legal counselling, case registration, and procedural follow-up, all designed to facilitate faster resolutions and ensure the protection of labour rights and economic interests.

Counsellor Rabie Qassem highlighted the importance of replicating this experience across courts nationwide. He noted that the new Labour Law, recently signed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, includes for the first time a provision mandating the establishment of labour legal assistance offices—a significant legislative advancement to safeguard labour rights.

Speaking at the ceremony, Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, commended the milestone and reaffirmed the ILO’s appreciation for the fruitful partnership with the Ministry of Justice. He reiterated the ILO’s commitment to continuing technical support to sustain this initiative and further promote social justice in Egypt.

He also highlighted key achievements under the ADWA’ project, including the development of a judicial guide on international labour standards and their alignment with national legislation; the launch of the National Centre for Judicial Studies e-learning platform known as the Judges Academy; the establishment of a digital training studio; and the implementation of training programmes for labour court judges and legal assistance staff nationwide. A similar office was also inaugurated earlier this year at the North Cairo Primary Court.

Ihab Abdel Aaty, Legal Adviser to the Minister of Labour, expressed his appreciation to both the ILO and the Ministry of Justice for their constructive cooperation under the ADWA’ project. He noted that the inauguration marks the first legal assistance office established under the new Labour Law, representing a successful collaboration between the ILO, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Labour. He encouraged the replication of this model across all courts, especially given the law’s explicit provision for such offices to support both parties in labour disputes.

He also noted that the Ministry of Labour is currently drafting the executive regulations of the new law and preparing them for tripartite consultation and social dialogue. These regulations will include detailed provisions aligned with international labour standards, aiming to enhance the work environment, promote equal opportunities, and uphold rights.

Valentine Offenloch, Project Manager at the ILO, expressed pride in the sustained positive impact of the project beyond its official timeline. She noted that the initiative began as a pilot in 2017 and was implemented in two phases through to January 2025. The inauguration of the office stands as tangible proof of the project's success and sustainability, now serving as a model referenced in other countries. She also confirmed that the ILO is currently coordinating with development partners to secure the financial support required to sustain and expand labour legal assistance offices, further advancing social justice and the protection of workers’ rights across the country.