Cairo: 'The Ministry of Labor seeks to expand electronic linkage with Arab countries as a key tool for regulating the movement of Egyptian workers, protecting their rights and curbing irregular practices and unofficial intermediaries,' Labor Minister Hassan Raddad said on Thursday, September 10, 2026.According to State Information Service Egypt, Raddad, in statements, said electronic connectivity would contribute to accelerating data exchange and facilitate the verification of employment contracts and labor-market needs. The electronic linkage system is of special importance to the ministry, Raddad said, adding that it falls within the framework of efforts meant to build an integrated system for regulating the movement of Egyptian workers to foreign labor markets.Egypt already has cooperation and electronic connectivity with Jordan on labor-related matters, helping streamline the recruitment of Egyptian workers and facilitate more efficient data exchange, he said, describing the arrangement as an importan t model for the digitalization of labor movement among Arab countries. Raddad said the ministry is working continuously with Saudi Arabia on Egyptian labor issues. One of the key areas of cooperation is a professional skills assessment agreement aimed at ensuring workers possess the skills and qualifications required for their occupations before moving to the Saudi labor market.'The Ministry is also working to expand the range of occupations and training centers covered by the system,' he said. Raddad noted that professional skills assessment is directly linked to the ministry's policy of training and qualifying Egyptian workers and enhancing their competitiveness in foreign labor markets. 'Saudi Arabia uses professional skills assessment as one of the requirements governing the recruitment of skilled workers, underscoring the importance of developing and expanding the system,' he added.As regards the National Employment Strategy, Raddad said it provides an integrated framework for developing Egypt's labo r market and aligning employers' needs with the skills and capabilities of job seekers. He said assessing the strategy's results would not be limited to the number of jobs announced, but would encompass a broader system of measures and policies implemented by the ministry in cooperation with the private sector and development partners.'The Ministry is also working to develop labor-market information systems, improve databases of job seekers and achieve better alignment between labor supply and demand,' Raddad said. It is also preparing to launch a digital employment platform that would serve as an important tool for providing faster and more transparent access to job opportunities and connecting job seekers with positions suited to their skills and specializations as well as employers' needs.Regarding the target of creating 1.4 million jobs annually, Raddad said the goal represented a national ambition and that the ministry, together with various state agencies, the private sector and partners, was workin g to achieve it gradually and sustainably.