Egypt’s labor framework is grounded in Labor Law No. 12 of 2003, supplemented by social insurance regulations and periodic executive amendments. Foreign employers must comply with the full statutory system, even for remote workers. Below are the core areas every employer should understand.
1. Employment Contracts
All employees must have written employment contracts in Arabic. Bilingual contracts are allowed, but the Arabic version prevails legally. Contracts must include:
- Job title and duties
- Working hours
- Salary details
- Social insurance classification
- Leave entitlements
- Termination and notice rules
Fixed-term and indefinite-term contracts are both permitted, but fixed-term agreements automatically convert to indefinite-term if renewed continuously.
2. Working Hours
The standard working time in Egypt is 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
For most industries, Fridays are the mandated weekly rest day.
Employers must ensure:
- At least one hour of break after no more than five consecutive working hours
- At least one full day of rest per week
- Special limits for hazardous or strenuous work
Many companies operate a 5-day week at 40–45 hours, but statutory rules still apply.
3. Overtime
Overtime requires employee consent and must be compensated at legally mandated rates:
- Daytime overtime: +35% above the hourly rate
- Night overtime: +70% above the hourly rate
- Overtime on weekly rest days: +100% above regular pay
- Public holiday overtime: +200% pay or equivalent time off
Egypt enforces strict documentation of overtime hours, and underpayment is one of the most common compliance violations.
4. Paid Leave
Employees in Egypt are entitled to several forms of statutory leave. Annual leave starts at 21 days after one year of service and increases to 30 days after ten years or once the employee turns 50, with additional days granted for hazardous work. Annual leave cannot be exchanged for cash except at termination.
Sick leave is granted with medical certification and is paid at 75% salary for the first 90 days and 85% for the next 90 days within the same year.
Female employees receive 90 days of fully paid maternity leave, provided they have completed ten months of service. This leave can be taken twice during their employment. After returning to work, they are also entitled to two daily nursing breaks for 24 months.
Employees also receive marriage leave, bereavement leave, and all paid public holidays, which typically range from 14 to 18 days per year depending on the Islamic calendar.
5. Minimum Wage
Egypt applies a national minimum wage that is periodically adjusted by the National Council for Wages. As of the latest update, the private-sector minimum wage is set at a government-mandated monthly rate of EGP 7,000, and employers must ensure full compliance regardless of industry. Some sectors and free-zone entities may follow different wage floors approved by their authorities, but in general, employers should budget for annual increases and verify that salary offers meet or exceed the current statutory minimum.
6. Employee Benefits
Employers in Egypt must provide the mandatory set of statutory benefits, including enrollment in social insurance (covering pensions, disability, work injury, and unemployment components), paid leave entitlements, and all public holidays.
Employees also commonly receive additional benefits such as transportation allowances, meal stipends, health insurance coverage, performance bonuses, and professional development support. These supplementary benefits are not required by law but are widely used to stay competitive in Egypt’s growing professional labor market.
7. Social Security
Egypt has a mandatory social insurance system covering pensions, disability, work injuries, unemployment, and health insurance.
Contributions are based on two salary components:
- Fixed Salary Base
- Variable Salary Base
Employers contribute around 18–19%, and employees contribute about 11%, depending on the updated base limits set annually.
Incorrect reporting can lead to penalties or audits.
8. Income Tax
Employers must withhold income tax at progressive rates based on annual income. Accurate reporting is essential because Egypt’s tax authority enforces digital filing rules and can issue fines for miscalculations.
Here’s what the rates look like:
| Annual Income (EGP) | Tax Rate |
| Up to 15,000 | 0% |
| 15,001 – 30,000 | 2.5% |
| 30,001 – 45,000 | 10% |
| 45,001 – 60,000 | 15% |
| 60,001 – 200,000 | 20% |
| 200,001 – 400,000 | 22.5% |
| Above 400,000 | 25% |
| Above 1,200,000 (highest band) | 27.5% |