Social protection training on migrant workers and refugees delivered in Arabic for the first time ...

THAMM Plus

Social protection training on migrant workers and refugees delivered in Arabic for the first time

The ITC-ILO course "Extending Social Protection to Migrant Workers, Refugees and their Families" has been delivered fully in Arabic for the first time, expanding capacity-building opportunities for Arabic-speaking partners.

14 April 2026

A six-week e-learning programme brought together 15 Egyptian officials from key national institutions, including the National Organization for Social Insurance (NOSI), the Ministry of Labour (MoL), and the Universal Health Insurance Authority (UHIA). Delivered by the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO) between 20 October and 28 November 2025, participants strengthened their capacities to extend social protection coverage to Egyptian workers abroad and refugees.

The course explored a comprehensive range of themes, including international legal frameworks and the right to social security for migrant workers and refugees, bilateral and multilateral social security agreements, the inclusion of social protection clauses in labour agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and innovative unilateral measures to extend coverage in countries of origin and destination.
Through interactive modules, live discussions, and peer learning, participants developed practical skills to design and implement inclusive, rights-based social protection systems aligned with international standards.

Reflecting on how they will apply the knowledge and tools acquired to strengthen social protection systems in Egypt, participant Dr. Engy Gomaa from NOSI noted: "The course on extending social protection to migrant workers, refugees and their families was a very useful experience. It helped us better understand the situation of migrants and refugees and their families in many countries, as well as the International Labour Organization's perspective and commitment towards them."

Another participant from NOSI, Dr. Ahmed ElHalwani added: "I benefited greatly from the good practices presented and I gained extensive information. The working group was a cooperative team with strong professional and technical expertise. We hope for further opportunities to participate in more courses on international experiences, the latest studies, research and good practices developed by the International Labour Organization across different countries."

Whether by enhancing coordination across institutions, improving the transferability of benefits across borders, or promoting more inclusive policy design, participants completed the training equipped with practical tools to expand social protection coverage.
This initiative reflects the strong partnership between the International Labour Organization's THAMM Plus programme, funded by the European Union, and the PROSPECTS partnership, supported by the Government of Netherlands. Both projects work closely with tripartite partners to equip national stakeholders in Egypt with the skills and resources needed to strengthen the national social protection system. Their efforts support more inclusive social protection policies that promote decent work and advance social justice for all.