Cairo: Minister of Labor Hassan Raddad announced that preparing Egypt's National Decent Work Programme marks a significant step towards establishing an integrated framework that outlines national priorities and translates them into actionable outcomes and programmes, aligned with labor market demands and the rapidly changing work environment. Raddad's remarks were delivered in a speech by Ahmed Nazmy, Head of the Central Administration for International Relations at the Ministry of Labor, during the Government Consultation Session in Cairo, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) office.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the session was attended by Eric Ochlan, Director of the ILO Country Office in Cairo and Director of the Decent Work Technical Team for Egypt and Eritrea, along with representatives from relevant ministries, national authorities, and social partners. The minister emphasized the necessity of basing the programme on a participatory national vision, considering the state's priorities and labor market needs, involving the government, employers, and workers. He assured the Ministry of Labor's dedication to ongoing collaboration with the ILO and all partners to ensure the provision of decent, safe, and productive work for all workers.
Raddad highlighted that the meeting is part of joint efforts by the Ministry of Labor and the ILO to formulate Egypt's National Decent Work Programme, involving various ministries, authorities, and social partners to create a comprehensive national vision on decent work issues. He detailed that the cooperation has included projects aimed at supporting the state's initiatives to align with international labor standards, enhance working conditions, create safe workplaces, combat child labor, and promote occupational safety and health.
Furthermore, he noted that cooperation efforts have expanded to promote gender equality, empower women, and increase women's employment rates, showcasing a shared commitment to achieving decent work and strengthening workers' rights. Raddad acknowledged the ILO's significant role as a key partner in supporting Egypt's efforts in these areas, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to further developing this partnership to meet state priorities and labor market needs.
In his concluding remarks, Raddad expressed gratitude to the ILO for its continuous support and collaboration in preparing the programme, as well as to the ministries, national authorities, social partners, and everyone who contributed to the process's success.