Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 96) - Egypt (Ratification: 1960)

Revision of Convention No. 96. The Committee notes the attention paid by the Government in the report received in August 2013 to the process of holding consultations with the social partners on international labour standards, including the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). Moreover, the Government indicates that several in-depth studies are still being undertaken on the practices of private employment agencies in Egypt in order to fill any legislative gaps related thereto. The Committee further notes with interest the Government’s statement indicating that while Convention No. 181 has not yet been ratified, it is applying its provisions through Egyptian laws. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to formally accept the obligations of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). It invites the Government to continue to report on steps taken in consultation with the social partners to ratify Convention No. 181. The Committee recalls that the Government may make use of the Office’s technical assistance in this field.

Part II of the Convention. Progressive abolition of fee-charging employment agencies. In previous comments, the Committee drew the Government’s attention to the fact that Egypt has accepted Part II of the Convention, which obliges it to abolish fee-charging employment agencies conducted with a view to profit. The Government indicates in its report that the competent department follows up on private employment agencies, in collaboration with all relevant bodies, with a view to supervising their activities through inspection on a continuous and periodic base. Furthermore, the Government reports that some of the licences granted to some agencies were annulled as a result of a confirmed violation of legislation, while the activities of some others were stopped pending the confirmation of violation. The Committee notes that the measures opening up the employment placement market to private employment agencies do not give effect to the obligations contained in Part II of Convention No. 96, accepted by Egypt at the time of its ratification in 1954. It recalls that the ILO Governing Body, during its 273rd Session in November 1998, invited the State parties to Convention No. 96 to contemplate the possibility of ratifying, if appropriate, the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). Such ratification would entail the immediate denunciation of Convention No. 96. Consequently, as long as Convention No. 181 has not been ratified by Egypt, Convention No. 96 remains in force in the country and the Committee will continue to examine its application. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken in order to monitor the activities of agencies operating in the country, providing a summary of the reports of the inspection services, information on the number and nature of infringements reported and any other available information, particularly with regard to the cases where the decision to revoke the licence to operate was taken. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the agencies operating for profit have been granted permits and, if so, the number of times the permits have been renewed (Article 5(2)(b) of the Convention). The Government is also invited to indicate the number of private agencies operating in different areas of the labour market.