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Introduction
From 15th September 2025, a new law will come into force introducing various changes regarding employment of foreign workers.
Impact
High
What has changed?
The law will introduce the following changes amongst others. As of yet, full details are unknown. Further clarification is expected in October 2025.
- New notification requirement: Employers will be required to notify the Ministry of Labor if a foreign worker is absent for 15 consecutive business days without a valid reason.
- Non-traditional employment: The new law will formally recognize non-traditional work arrangements such as remote work, part-time work, flexible work, and job sharing.
- Foreign worker quotas: The current quota requires employers to hire nine Egyptian workers for every one foreign worker. It is expected that the new terms of the quota and any exceptions will be published in October 2025.
- Employment contracts: Employment contracts will be subject to the following new rules:
- Mandatory start date: Employment contracts will be required to include a start date.
- Language: Employment contracts will be required to be written in Arabic as per current requirements; however it will also be possible to provide contracts in the foreign employee’s native language if they do not understand Arabic. In case of dispute, the Arabic version will take precedence.
- Reciprocal condition: The rule prohibiting Egyptian employers from hiring foreign nationals from countries which do not allow the hiring of Egyptian nationals may be waived at the discretion of the Ministry of Labour.
- Additional copy: In addition to ensuring the employer, employee, and the Social Insurance Office each have a copy of the employment contract, employers will also be required to send a copy to the Labour Office.
What you need to do
For further information on Egyptian immigration, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at [email protected]
