Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Egypt (Ratification: 1954)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Article 1 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Government reports that it has made continuous efforts to regulate the employment market, protect workers and improve their skills in all economic sectors. It adds that these efforts contributed to reducing the overall unemployment rate to 7.3 per cent in the first half of 2021, as well as to opening new and advanced labour markets that promote the provision of many and varied job opportunities through the employment services that seek to develop the use of productive resources. The Committee notes the different activities carried out by the employment service, including: holding countrywide job fairs sponsored by the Ministry of Manpower to provide guidance for young people seeking work; attending conferences and workshops on topics related to unemployment and implementing training courses for young women and men in skills relevant to occupations that are in demand on the job market, to facilitate the access of young persons to enhanced job opportunities. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that in 2020 there were 300 employment offices across the country. Moreover, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), in 2020 261,231 persons were placed in employment through the employment service. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated, detailed information on the nature, scope and impact of activities carried out by the employment service, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex. It also requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to respond to the needs of specific groups who face particular barriers to entering or remaining in the labour market, including women, young persons, persons with disabilities, refugees and other groups in vulnerable situations. The Government is also requested to continue to provide information on the number and location of public employment offices established, the number of employment applications received, the number of vacancies notified, and the number of persons placed in employment by these offices. Moreover, the Committee notes that private employment agencies can also, in collaboration with the public employment service, play a critical role in improving labour market efficiency. Recalling the campaign launched by the Office in May 2022 to promote the ratification of both the Public Employment Services Convention, 1948 (No. 88), and thePrivate Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), the Committee invites the Government to consider ratifying Convention No. 181, as the most up-to-date instrument in the area of private employment services, which in turn complements the effective implementation of Convention No. 88.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Article 1 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. In reply to the previous comments, the Committee notes from the Government’s report that 142 employment offices were developed through projects carried out in creating decent jobs for youth, in addition to establishing 44 new offices. The Government indicates that, according to official indicators, these efforts helped to reduce the unemployment rates in the governorates in which they were set up. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved through the activities carried out by the employment service and the manner in which it ensures “the best possible organisation of the employment market as an integral part of the national programme for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and the development and use of productive resources” (Article 1(2)). Please also provide information on the number of public employment offices established, the number of employment applications received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by the offices.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Contribution of the employment service to the promotion of employment. The Committee notes the detailed replies provided by the Government in August 2010 to its 2005 direct request, including comprehensive data on the operation of the public employment service. It notes that the Government developed and upgraded about 180 employment offices at the country level, in cooperation with Canada and the United States. Five offices are being developed in cooperation with Italy in Alexandria, Fayyoum, Aswan, Luxor and 6 October. The Committee notes with interest that these efforts aim to establish units in all employment service offices for the promotion of employment of young persons, providing orientation and identifying the appropriate training for young jobseekers. The Government also indicates that the public employment services contribute to the formulation of new policies and mechanisms to regulate the employment of workers in irregular conditions and to upgrade existing specialized units, in order to facilitate the placement in special sectors of the economy. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information in its next report on the results achieved through the establishment and development of the employment offices in terms of ensuring the best possible organization of the employment market and meeting the new requirements of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Contribution of the employment service to the promotion of employment. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report. An integrated system has been established to provide employment services all over the country. The Governments of Canada and of the United States provided technical assistance to strengthen some 288 employment offices. The Committee requests the Government to continue reporting on the measures adopted by the public employment services to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market, including adapting them to meet the new needs of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). It further asks the Government to provide statistical information concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices - indicating the efforts made to meet the needs of employers and workers in each region of the country (Part IV of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

1. Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. In reply to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports indicating that the Higher Council for Manpower and Training by Act No. 78 of 2000 was established and that it will be responsible for the regulation and operation of the employment service and the preparation of its policies at the national level, in collaboration with other agencies. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide particulars of the arrangements made through the Higher Council for Manpower and Training for the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of the employment service policy. Please also provide the other information requested by the report form for the above Articles of the Convention.

2. The Committee trusts that in its next detailed report the Government will also provide the information requested for each Article of the Convention, including statistical data and a general appreciation of the manner in which the employment service operates in practice (Parts V and VI of the report form).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to previous comments. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the Central Council for Manpower and Training. It has also been informed of the establishment of the Manpower and Training Planning Commission (in 1992), and the High Committee for Labour and Production Incentives (in 1995). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would state whether these bodies are consulted on the organization and operation of the employment service and on employment service policy and, if not, indicate what arrangements exist, in practice, to ensure the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in these matters, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee also notes in this connection that sections 76 (Central Advisory Labour Council) and 79 (local and sectoral advisory employment committees) of Act No. 137, 1981, are amended in the new draft Labour Code. It asks the Government to provide information on any developments in this respect. 2. The Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will not fail to provide the statistical information referred to in Part IV and a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied referred to in Part VI of the report form adopted by the Governing Body.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the Central Council for Manpower and Training. It has also been informed of the establishment of the Manpower and Training Planning Commission (in 1992), and the High Committee for Labour and Production Incentives (in 1995). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would state whether these bodies are consulted on the organization and operation of the employment service and on employment service policy and, if not, indicate what arrangements exist, in practice, to ensure the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in these matters, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention.

The Committee also notes in this connection that sections 76 (Central Advisory Labour Council) and 79 (local and sectoral advisory employment committees) of Act No. 137, 1981, are amended in the new draft Labour Code. It asks the Government to provide information on any developments in this respect.

2. The Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will not fail to provide the statistical information referred to in Part IV and a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied referred to in Part VI of the report form adopted by the Governing Body.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. (Establishment of advisory committees.) The Committee notes from the Government's reply to its earlier comments that Decision No. 795 of 1979 of the President of the Republic which established the Central Council for Manpower and Training was repealed by Decision No. 459 of 1982 of the President of the Republic and the above-mentioned Council is replaced by the establishment of the Central Council for Human Resources Development and Training. The Government indicates that this body is responsible for the elaboration of the national policy in the field of planning and development of human resources and gives a list of its specific functions. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would state clearly in its next report whether this body is also empowered to cooperate in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of the employment service policy. Please also describe the composition of this body.

As regards sections 76 and 79 of Act No. 137 of 1981, to which reference is made once again in the Government's report, the Committee asks the Government to indicate whether any measures have been adopted or envisaged with a view to establish in practice a Central Advisory Labour Council (section 76) and advisory employment committees at various geographical and sectoral levels (section 79), in order to give effect to the above-mentioned Articles of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. (Establishment of advisory committees.) The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments. The Government's report indicates that the Central Council for Manpower and Training has been established in accordance with Decision No. 795 of 1976 of the President of the Republic. The Committee requests the Government to state in its next report whether this body is specifically empowered to co-operate in the organisation and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy. It also asks the Government to indicate whether the representatives of employers and workers on this Council are appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organisations of employers and workers, as stipulated in the Convention.

The Committee also notes that the Government's report again refers to sections 76 and 79 of Act No. 137 of 1981 (enacting the Labour Code) which provide for the establishment of a Central Advisory Labour Council (section 76) and of advisory employment committees at various geographical and sectoral levels (section 79). Since it appears that measures to implement these provisions have not yet been issued, the Committee asks the Government to clarify the legal and practical situation with regard to the creation and attributions of the various advisory bodies referred to in the information on the implementation of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention.