World Employment Confederation Promotes Fair Recruitment Standards at Cairo Roundtable Organised by International Labour Organization and Ministry of Labour

On 21 September, the World Employment Confederation (WEC) participated in a high-level roundtable organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Egyptian Ministry of Labour in Cairo about fair recruitment and the reality facing private employment agencies in recruiting Egyptian workers abroad. The discussion highlighted the recent developments brought by Egypt's new labour law, the ILO's Fair Recruitment agenda and WEC's ongoing initiatives to advance ethical recruitment.

Published on 24th September 2025

The World Employment Confederation (WEC), represented by Meran Ossama, Growth Partner at Target HR - Manpower Egypt and WEC representative in Egypt, participated in a roundtable with private employment agencies titled "Towards fair recruitment: Understanding the realities faced by private employment agencies in Egypt".

The roundtable was hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) within the framework of its Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM Plus) programme supported by the EU, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour. It brought together key stakeholders, including H.E. Mohamed Goubran, Minister of Labour, and Mr. Eric Oechslin, ILO Cairo Office Director, along with representatives of private recruitment agencies.

During the discussions, WEC presented its Code of Conduct, a global framework built on ten guiding principles that ensure private employment services operate according to the highest standards of ethics, legality, and fairness. These principles cover critical areas including:

• Compliance with laws and international standards (ILO Convention 181)
• Ethical and professional conduct
• Free-of-charge recruitment for jobseekers
• Transparency of terms of employment
• Non-discrimination and equal opportunity
• Health and safety at work
• Respect for workers' rights and freedom of association
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Quality service and fair competition
• Access to remedy and grievance mechanisms

"By aligning national practices with the WEC Code of Conduct, Egypt can further strengthen fair recruitment, ensure decent work opportunities abroad, and build confidence among international partners," said Meran Ossama in her intervention.

In his opening remarks, Minister Goubran emphasized that Egypt's new Labour Law No. 14/2025 strengthens regulation of recruitment agencies, combats fraudulent operators, and aligns with international labour standards to protect Egyptian workers abroad. He also highlighted initiatives such as the Pre-Departure Orientation Unit and targeted awareness programs for companies, labour inspectors, and workers.

Mr. Eric Oechslin reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to advancing fair migration globally, noting the four principles of its Fair Migration Agenda:

• Ensuring labour migration is a choice, not a necessity, by strengthening labour markets in origin countries
• Improving working conditions and social protection for migrant workers
• Combating exploitation and unfair practices
• Promoting policy coherence between labour migration, skills development, and employment strategies, with international labour standards.

He added that, "In Egypt, through the EU-funded programme now in its second phase as THAMM Plus, we have reinforced institutional capacities to translate fair recruitment principles into practice."

The roundtable also included a legal briefing on the new labour law, a presentation of ILO's operational guidelines on fair recruitment, and an interactive dialogue with private recruitment companies about the challenges they face.

WEC reiterated its readiness to work closely with Egyptian authorities, the ILO, and private sector partners to advance ethical recruitment, strengthen compliance with international standards, and promote decent and fair employment opportunities for Egyptian workers abroad.

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Contact: Aurélie Pattyn, Communications Manager Email

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