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Labour Code (No. 12 of 2003).

Country(ies)

Egypt

Subjects (Classification)

Labour codes, general labour and employment acts

Adopted on (Date of text)

2003-04-07

Scope of text

National

Type of legislation (Type of text)

Law, Act

Abstract/Citation

Preface sets out new features of labour code, including the balance in duties and responsibilities between workers and employers; due consideration to the social dimensions of the economy; new provisions that reflect global and local economic changes; reflection of fundamental principles contained in international labour standards; safeguarding formerly acquired rights; and recognition of workers' right to a periodic annual wage increase of at least 7 per cent.
The Code consists of six parts:
Part I : Definitions and general provisions
Part II: Individual labour relations (chapters and sections on the employment of Egyptians at home and abroad, the employment of foreigners, labour contracts, wages, leave, workers' duties, supervision of workers and accountability, hours of work, employment of women and children and the termination of the labour relationship)
Part III: Vocational training and guidance (the licensing and exercise of vocational training, skill assessment and trade practice licensing)
Part IV : Collective labour relations (consultation and cooperation, collective bargaining, collective labour agreements, labour disputes)
Part V : Occupational safety and health and the work environment (definitions, work sites, structures and permits, safeguarding the work environment, social and health services, occupational safety and health and environment inspection, regulation of occupational safety and health and environment equipment, research bodies and advisory services)
Part VI : Labour inspection and sanctions (labour inspection, judicial authority and sanctions).

The new Code excludes from its scope of application the following categories: public servants including those working in local government units and public authorities, domestic servants and members of the employer's family who are also his dependents. Debts due to workers under the provisions of this Code have priority over all other debts. Provisions of the Code apply to foreign workers provided there is reciprocal treatment. Enters into force 90 days after publication.

Implementing text(s)

2003-06-30 (EGY-2003-R-68569)
Decree concerning rules on inspection of places of work at night and at other than official working hours (No. 111 of 2003).

Implementing text(s)

2003-06-10 (EGY-2003-R-69677)
Decree No. 970 of 2003 concerning the formation and system of work in the Consultative Council for Work

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-12 (EGY-2003-R-69680)
Decree No. 1184 of 2003 forming a higher committee for planning and employing manpower at home and abroad

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-12 (EGY-2003-R-69681)
Decree No. 1185 of 2003 determining the vital or strategic establishments where strike is forbidden

Implementing text(s)

2003-06-30 (EGY-2003-R-69682)
Decree No. 112 of 2003 determining the holidays considered as leave with full pay for workers

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-14 (EGY-2003-R-69683)
Decree No. 124 of 2003 determining the collective negotiation levels, subjects, and procedures to be followed in respect thereof

Implementing text(s)

2003-09-16 (EGY-2003-R-69695)
Decree No. 1543 of 2003 concerning the formation and system of work in the board of the Training and Rehabilitation Finance Fund.

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-14 (EGY-2003-R-69696)
Decree No. 126 of 2003 concerning statistics and forms of work injuries, grave accidents, vocational diseases and ordinary chronic diseases

Implementing text(s)

2003-09-01 (EGY-2003-R-69697)
Decree No. 180 of 2003 concerning the regulation of medical care for workers

Implementing text(s)

2003-09-06 (EGY-2003-R-69698)
Decree No.183 of 2003 organizing the employment of women in night work shifts

Implementing text(s)

2003-06-30 (EGY-2003-R-69699)
Decree No. 113 of 2003 determining the works that are intermittent by their nature and in which the worker may stay at the place of work more than ten hours a day, providing her or his stay shall not exceed twelve hours a day

Implementing text(s)

2003-06-30 (EGY-2003-R-69700)
Decree No. 114 of 2003 determining the rules and procedures concerning research and studies in the field of vocational safety and health and insuring work environment

Implementing text(s)

2003-09-16 (EGY-2003-R-69750)
Decree No. 1544 of 2003 concerning the formation and powers of the executive committee of the Higher Council for Development of Human Resources

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-12 (EGY-2003-R-69752)
Decree No. 122 of 2003 determining the cases or works that compel continuing work therein without rest period, and the hard and exhausting works in which the workers are granted rest periods counted within the actual working hours

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-19 (EGY-2003-R-69753)
Decree No. 134 of 2003 determining the establishments committed to institute functional agencies, committees for vocational safety and health and ensuring labour environment security, and the quarters assuming the training and the rules to be followed in this respect

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-21 (EGY-2003-R-69754)
Decree No. 135 of 2003 concerning the conditions and procedures of granting work permits to foreigners

Implementing text(s)

2003-08-11 (EGY-2003-R-69755)
Decree No. 152 of 2003 determining the powers and system of work of the consultative committees for Vocational Safety and Health and Ensuring Labour Environment Security in the governorates

Implementing text(s)

2003-08-11 (EGY-2003-R-69756)
Decree No.153 of 2003 concerning medical examination of workers before their employment and discovery of their faculties

Implementing text(s)

2003-08-31 (EGY-2003-R-69757)
Decree No. 175 of 2003 concerning the rules and procedures regulating vocational apprenticeship.

Implementing text(s)

2003-09-06 (EGY-2003-R-69759)
Decree No. 184 of 2003 concerning the collective labour agreement form

Implementing text(s)

2003-09-09 (EGY-2003-R-69760)
Decree No.185 of 2003 concerning the model statute of sanctions and work regulation

Implementing text(s)

2003-08-11 (EGY-2003-R-69761)
Decree No.150 of 2003 concerning rules and procedures of granting the license for exercise of vocational training operations.

Implementing text(s)

2003-08-19 (EGY-2003-R-69762)
Decree No. 151 of 2003 concerning the rules and procedures regulating the exercise of vocational training operations.

Implementing text(s)

2003-08-11 (EGY-2003-R-69763)
Decree No. 154 of 2003 regulating the works of the Higher Consultative Council for Vocational Safety and Health and ensuring labour environment security

Implementing text(s)

2003-07-12 (EGY-2003-R-69780)
Decree No. 121 of 2003 concerning nursery schools

Implementing text(s)

2008-08-05 (EGY-2008-R-81383)
Ministry of Manpower and Emigration Decree No. 181/2008.

Implementing text(s)

2011-02-16 (EGY-2011-R-90157)
Decree Law No. 2 of 2011 granting government employees special allowances.

Implementing text(s)

2013-04-21 (EGY-2013-R-96648)
Ministerial Order No. 16 of 2013 fixing the Basic Pension.

Implementing text(s)

2013-08-07 (EGY-2013-L-97311)
Law No. 78 of 2013 granting government employees special allowances.

Implementing text(s)

2015-09-09 (EGY-2015-L-102491)
Law No. 99 of 2015 granting government employees special allowance.

Implementing text(s)

2023-06-21 (EGY-2023-R-115543)
Order No. 46 of 2023 increasing the minimum monthly wage of private sector employees.

Amending text(s)

2005-06-01 (EGY-2005-L-78590)
Law No. 90/2005 amending some provisions of the Labour Law (Law No. 12/2003).

Amending text(s)

2008-06-22 (EGY-2008-L-79477)
Law No. 180 of 2008 amending Certain Provisions of the Labour Law No. 12 of 2003.

Repealed text(s)

1981-08-06 (EGY-1981-L-11006)
An Act to promulgate the Labour Code. No. 137.

Related text(s)

2022-04-18 (EGY-2022-R-113009)
Decree No. 50 of 18 April 2022, which relates to determining the levels of collective bargaining, its subjects, mechanisms, and procedures to be followed.

Electronic source title

English translation

Author

Government of Egypt

URL

http://www.egypt.gov.eg/english/laws/labour/default.aspx

Electronic source title

Act on-line (In Arabic)

Author

Egyptian Government Services Portal

URL

http://www.misr.gov.eg/arabic/laws/labour/default.aspx

Monograph title

English translation

Author

Middle East Library for Economic Services (MELES)

Place of publication

Cairo

Country

Egypt

Date

2003

Page range

109 p.

Monograph title

Labour Code and Ministerial Decrees made under it

Publisher

Alamiria

Place of publication

Cairo

Country

Egypt

Date

2004

Edition

8th Edition

Page range

651 p.

Monograph title

Labour Law (as amended by Law No. 90/2005)

Author

The Middle East Library for Economic Services (MELES)

Publisher

(in Arabic and English)

Date

2008-03

Serial title

Separate copy

Page range

96 p.