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Written Agreements

In Egypt, the Labor Code mandates for employment contracts to be in writing. The contract must be written in Arabic, and 3 copies must be provided - 1 for the employer, 1 for the employee, and 1 to be submitted to the relevant social insurance office.

The contract must contain the following information:

• The name of the employer and the workplace address
• The name of the employee, their qualifications, profession, or craft, social insurance number, and home address
• The nature and kind of work that is the subject of the contract
• The wages to be paid to the employee, as well as the benefits in cash and in kind that were agreed upon
• The probation period, if there is to be one
• Any non-compete or non-solicitation agreements

If an employer wishes to conclude a non-compete or non-solicitation agreement with the employee, it must be in writing. The clause should stipulate what activities the employee is prohibited from engaging in, how long the employee must refrain from engaging in the activity, and in what geographic area. The clause can also stipulate compensation for breaching the terms of the clause. No specific regulations in Egyptian law define limitations on these agreements, but the agreement can only prohibit activity in so far as it harms the employer.

Oral Agreements

In Egypt, employers are obligated to draw up 3 copies of a written labor contract in Arabic. A copy must be retained by the employer, 1 copy must be given to the employee, and 1 copy is deposited with the relevant social security office.

If no written contract exists, workers may alone establish their rights by all methods of evidence. According to the Egyptian Civil Code, a contract is concluded as soon as the parties exchange the expression of 2 identical wills in writing or verbally or implied. The existence of a contract can be proven by expression or by the nature of dealing.

Implied Agreements

If no written contract exists, workers may alone establish their rights by all methods of evidence. According to the Egyptian Civil Code, a contract is concluded as soon as the parties exchange the expression of two identical wills in writing or verbally or implied. The existence of a contract can be proven by expression or by the nature of dealing.

In Egypt, the Labor Law stipulates that the standard working hours are 48 hours a week or 8 hours a day. This does not include the time given to an employee for meals and rest. Hours worked beyond 48 a week and 8 hours a day are considered overtime. The total working hours, including overtime, cannot exceed 10 hours a day, and employees cannot be at the workplace for more than 12 hours per day (10 working hours + 2 non-working hours). The period between the start of a work period and its end must not be spread over more than 12 hours.

• The 1st day of Muharram - date subject to change every year
• Prophet Mohammed’s birthday - date subject to change every year
• The 1st and 2nd days of Shawal (Eid-ul-Fitr) - dates subject to change every year
• The 9th, 10th, and 11th days of Zoelhega (Eid-ul-Adha) - dates subject to change every year
• Eastern Christmas - January 7
• Spring day (Sham El Nessim) - date subject to change every year
• Sinai Liberation Day - April 25
• Labor Day - May 1
• June 30 Revolution - June 30
• Revolution Day - July 23
• Islamic New Year - July 30
• Armed Forces Day - October 6

The Labor Code allows a probationary period to be included in the employment contract if it is included expressly in writing. However, the probationary period cannot exceed 3 months, and the employee cannot undergo a probation period more than once for the same employer.

Notice Period

An employment contract can be terminated by the employer under the following circumstances:

• With a notice period of 2 months if the employee has worked for less than 10 years for the same employer
• With a notice period of 3 months if the employee has worked for more than 10 years for the same employer
• Without notice in case of grave mistakes

Employees have the right to be absent for one day (eight hours) per week during the notice period to allow them to look for another job.

If an employer terminates a contract without notice or before the expiry of the notice, they must pay the employee an amount equal to their wages for the period of notice or remaining part.

Severance Benefits

According to the Labour Law of Egypt, employees are entitled to severance benefits in the following situations:

• If the employer terminates the labor contract for economic reasons, employees are entitled to 1 month’s wages for each of the first 5 years of service and one and a half month’s wages for each year after that.
• Employees retiring at 60 years are entitled to an indemnity calculated based on half of their monthly wages for each of the first 5 years of employment, and 1 month’s wages for each subsequent year, unless they are entitled to old-age, disability or death benefits under the Social Insurance Scheme.

Minimum Wage

Effective March 1, 2025, Egypt mandated its first minimum wage for private sector employees of EGP 7,000 (Egyptian pounds) per month. The national minimum wage for public sector employees remains EGP 4,000 per month.

The Labor Law of Egypt requires wages to be paid at regular intervals as follows:

• Employees who are paid on a monthly basis must receive their wages at least once a month
• Non-Monthly Payment: For employees who are not paid on a monthly basis (e.g., those paid daily, weekly, or bi-weekly), wages must be paid at least once every week.

Employers must pay wages on a working day and during working hours at the place of work, unless otherwise agreed upon in the employment contract.

Overtime, Holiday & Vacation Pay

The Egyptian labor code stipulates that any work performed over 48 hours a week or 8 hours a day is considered overtime. Overtime is allowed in cases of unusual work emergencies, provided that a written justification for such overtime work has been submitted to the relevant administrative department. An employee is entitled to an overtime rate of at least 135% of the employee’s standard hourly wage for overtime work performed during the day and 170% of the standard hourly wage for overtime work performed during the night. An employee is entitled to 200% of the standard hourly wage for overtime work performed on holidays or weekly days of rest.

Employees are entitled to their regular salary during annual leave.

Visas

The following visa categories are available in Egypt:

• Single entry visas - valid for 6 months and allow a maximum stay of 60 days
• Multiple entry visas - valid for 6 months and allow a collective stay of 90 days
• Business visas - applications must be submitted with a letter from the visiting person's company stating the purpose of the visit, as well as the name and address of the organization to be visited in Egypt, valid up to 90 days
• Tourist visa - valid for up to 90 days
• Medical visa - issued to individuals traveling to Egypt for medical treatment, examinations, or procedures
• Visit visa - allows visitors to stay with family or friends in Egypt for up to 90 days. It can be obtained upon arrival at the airport
• Student visa - issued to foreign students who wish to study in Egypt; valid for the duration of the course
• Work visa - issued to foreign nationals willing to work in Egypt; must be applied through the embassy

Work Permits

With exceptions for specific work categories, the labor code requires foreign nationals who wish to work in Egypt to obtain a work permit through the Ministry of Manpower and Training Office. The work permit is issued within 48 hours after the application is approved. It is valid for one year and can be renewed for a fee.

The law limits the number of foreign workers in any organization to 10% of the total workforce. The employer must register foreign employees with the Directorate of Manpower and Immigration and notify the agency of specific details such as their personal data, job requirements, as well as qualifications for the job.