The Ministry of Labor is undergoing a radical development in its approach to the file of recruiting Egyptian labor abroad. It will no longer be limited to its traditional supervisory role over specialized companies but will take on the task of directly providing job opportunities to citizens free of charge, becoming a main competitor and direct provider of free job opportunities. This radical change comes in preparation for the implementation of the new Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, scheduled to take effect next September. This transformation aims to confront the exploitation of workers by some companies and the imposition of excessive fees on them.

The ministry explained that its role under the current Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 was mainly supervisory and regulatory, including issuing and renewing licenses for labor recruitment companies and inspecting them to ensure compliance with legal provisions, such as not charging more than 2% of the worker’s wage in the first year as administrative fees, with penalties up to license cancellation for violators.

Under the new law and the ministry’s new approach, this regulatory role is no longer sufficient to face market challenges. The ministry has already started to provide free job opportunities abroad through direct communication with countries and foreign companies and by activating the role of its labor representation offices. This new approach positions the ministry as a direct competitor to private companies, aiming to create a more disciplined market and offer a safe and reliable government alternative for young job seekers abroad.

The main goal of this transformation is to “close the door on brokers” and relieve the financial burden on youth. Instead of only punishing companies after violations occur, the ministry now provides a proactive solution by directly offering opportunities, ensuring documented and official contracts, protecting workers from exploitation or fraud, and preserving the dignity of the Egyptian worker, which is part of the dignity of the state, as continuously emphasized by the political leadership.

Alongside its new role, the Ministry of Labor will continue to exercise its regulatory powers firmly and without leniency towards violators. As evidence, nearly 25 companies violating the law were closed recently according to statements by Minister Mohamed Gabr, and in July 2025 alone, licenses of 4 other companies were suspended and canceled. The ministry considers these measures a clear message to about 1120 licensed companies to fully comply with the law and not exploit workers.

The new Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 provides the legislative basis for this transformation, with Article 40 stating that the practice of recruiting Egyptians for work inside or outside the country shall be through the “competent ministry” alongside licensed private companies, giving the ministry legal backing to provide this service directly.

To achieve this vision, the Ministry of Labor has begun activating the role of labor attachés abroad and expanding their tasks to include searching and communicating to provide decent job opportunities, whereas their previous role was limited to problem-solving and contract documentation. With the ministry offering this service for free, along with training centers to qualify workers, it provides a comprehensive package making it the optimal choice for serious foreign companies and ambitious Egyptian workers, ensuring labor market regulation and job security.