Egypt’s Ministry of Labor issued new binding directives to overseas recruitment agencies through a formal letter sent by the General Administration for Recruitment Agencies to the Division of Overseas Employment Agencies.
This correspondence outlines a strict ban on the recruitment of Egyptian women for specific roles, including domestic positions such as housekeepers, cooks, home managers, personal assistants, and home nurses.
The prohibition further extends to the hospitality sector, specifically forbidding employment in cafes and restaurants as waitresses, beverage servers, food servers, counter staff, or any similar service roles.
Protecting the dignity of female workers
These regulations are part of the ministry’s periodic official updates aimed at preserving dignity of Egyptian women abroad and ensuring their rights.
The ministry noted that this decision was informed by reports from labor representation offices abroad and stems from a commitment to regulating the international labor market.
Sources speaking to Al-Masry Al-Youm clarified that while the ban on domestic work is a long-standing policy, the new element in this directive is the explicit prohibition against employing women in cafe-related roles.
Accountability and industry support
The sources confirmed that various violations were monitored throughout 2025 involving agencies that managed to bypass regulations to recruit Egyptian women for unsuitable roles that negatively impacted their reputation.
Such incidents led to numerous complications requiring intervention from Egyptian embassies to protect the workers interests.
Most recruitment agencies welcomed the decision, asserting that Egyptian women should be recruited for roles that reflect the country’s standing, noting high demand for Egyptian female professionals in fields such as medicine and education.
Edited translation from Al-Masry al-Youm
