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Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 96) - Egypt (RATIFICATION: 1960)

The Committee recalls that the Governing Body of the ILO (at its 337th Session in October 2019), on the recommendation of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group (SRM TWG), classified Convention No. 96 as being in the category of instruments that are no longer up to date and placed an item on the agenda of the 119th Session of the International Labour Conference in 2030 for due consideration to be given to its abrogation. The Committee recalls that the Governing Body of the ILO, at its 273rd Session in November 1998, invited the States parties to Convention No. 96 to contemplate the possibility of ratifying the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). Such ratification would entail the immediate denunciation of Convention No. 96. Recalling that the ratification and application of Convention No. 181 would contribute to strengthening vigilance with regard to the activities of private employment agencies and the protection of workers, the Committee encourages the Government to follow up on the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 337th Session (October 2019) approving the recommendations of the SRM TWG and to consider ratifying the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), which is the most up-to-date instrument in this area.

The Committee reminds the Government of the possibility to avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office in this regard.

Part II of the Convention. Progressive abolition of fee-charging employment agencies. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government with respect to the legislation governing the operation of private employment agencies, including the system of licensing and the prohibition of charging recruitment fees to workers. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the activities of private employment agencies operating in the country are monitored and overseen through the Ministry of Labour, its directorates and affiliated offices in accordance with sections 17 to 25 of the Labour Code, No. 12 of 2003 and Ministerial Decision No. 135 of 2003. The Government reports that there are 1,200 licensed private employment agencies. It adds that, during the reporting period, more than 81 private employment agencies had their licences revoked. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on the measures taken to monitor the activities of agencies operating in the country, including summaries of the reports of the inspection services, information on the number and nature of infringements reported and any other available information, particularly with regard to the cases where the decision was taken to revoke the agency’s operating licence. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on the number of license renewals that have been granted to private employment agencies (Article 5(2)(b) of the Convention).