Egypt’s Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad met Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, during the ILO Governing Body’s 356th session in Geneva. The meeting was attended by Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Alaa Hegazy, and officials from the ministry and mission.
Raddad thanked Houngbo for his global efforts, especially in advancing social justice and building a global alliance for it. He praised cooperation with the ILO office in Cairo, highlighting technical support during Egypt’s labour law discussions, joint work against child labour, promotion of union freedoms, and support for compliance with international labour standards.
The minister outlined Egypt’s progress in union freedoms, stressing that unions operate independently without government interference. He pointed to the Supreme Council for Social Dialogue as a balanced platform for workers, employers, and government, with legal recognition and its own budget.
Raddad emphasized the need to finalize Egypt’s Decent Work Country Program, aligning with national priorities, and noted that Egypt’s national employment strategy is nearly complete with ILO support. He also backed reforms to address ILO’s financial challenges.
Houngbo praised Egypt’s leadership role in Africa and the Arab world, describing Egypt as a key partner. He expressed optimism about future cooperation, especially on child labour, forced labour, and the Decent Work Program.
