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Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Egypt (RATIFICATION: 1982)

Article 2(2) of the Convention. National policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its report that a proposal on a financial project for nursing personnel was prepared in collaboration with trade unions for health personnel and is being finalized by the Ministry of Finance. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made in the formulation and implementation of this project.

With respect to the re-evaluation and classification of the nursing profession, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the draft classification system of nursing jobs was sent to the Central Department for Regulation and Management of the Ministry of Health. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on any progress made in the development of the classification system of nursing jobs.

The Committee understands that Egypt is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified nursing personnel, as shown in the data of the World Health Organization (WHO) (an average of 13.8 nurses for every 10,000 persons). In addition, it also understands that there is a demand for Egyptian nurses in the Gulf countries. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to address the shortage of nursing personnel.

Article 2(2) and (3), and Article 5(2). Employment and working conditions of nursing personnel – Consultation and negotiation with the social partners. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that a draft law for the exercise of the nursing profession is under preparation. The Public Union of Nursing has reviewed it at its general assembly in 2013 and the Ministry of Health is currently examining it in view of the adoption of necessary measures for its promulgation and entry into force. In this connection, the Committee also notes the Government’s references to the legislation concerning the monetary entitlements for nursing personnel, namely Orders of the Ministry of Health No. 700 of 2011 concerning the reorganization of the rules governing the compensation of extraordinary efforts and incentives and No. 591 of 2012 concerning the increase in remuneration for night or vigil shifts. Despite these measures, the Committee understands that the pay of nursing personnel remains relatively low, constituting one of the reasons for high turnover rate and for some nurses opting for working abroad. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on any developments regarding the adoption of the draft law for the exercise of the nursing profession. The Government is also requested to indicate whether any other measures have so far been taken or contemplated with a view to ensuring employment and working conditions that would attract more workers to the profession and retain them in it, as provided for under Article 2(2) of the Convention.

While a union of nurses was consulted in the case mentioned above, more generally, the Committee requests the Government to explain whether and how relevant hospital organizations, organizations of nurses, such as Public Union of Nursing, or general employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted in the process of adoption or revision of the national legislation concerning employment and working conditions of nursing personnel, such as the Orders of the Ministry of Health mentioned above. For this purpose, the Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information on the institutional framework for regular consultation with the organizations.

Article 3. Nursing education and training. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the governorates of El Gharbeya and El Beheira were selected as pilot sites for testing the application of a two-tier educational system for nursing, which is currently three-tier, in collaboration with the WHO. The Committee understands from the information made available on the website of the WHO that this collaboration also covers the adoption of national standards for nursing, national reference standards for curriculum for higher nursing education, a national accreditation system and of means for continuous improvement in medical education. The development of a database (an “observatory”) on human resources in the health sector is also a subject of collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the WHO. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on any progress made in the reorganization of the nursing education system, the development and adoption of relevant standards, and in the setting up of the health human resources observatory mentioned above.

Article 7. Special regulations on occupational health and safety for nursing personnel. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that specialized legislative committees, including the one on occupational safety and health, are reviewing the Labour Code and relevant laws with a view to amending them. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on progress made in this regard. It invites the Government in this connection to consider the possibility of availing itself of technical assistance of the Office.