Egypt Daily News – The House of Representatives approved Article 54, previously Article 53, which states that a female worker is entitled to a four-month maternity leave, covering both the pre- and post-birth periods, provided that the leave after childbirth is no less than 45 days. The worker must submit a medical certificate indicating the expected due date. This leave is fully paid, but a worker is only entitled to this leave a maximum of three times throughout her service.
The employer’s wage obligation is reduced by the amount covered by the social insurance system as compensation for wages, in accordance with Article 77 of the Social Insurance and Pensions Law No. 148 of 2019.
Additionally, working hours for pregnant women are reduced by at least one hour per day starting from the sixth month of pregnancy. They cannot be required to work overtime during pregnancy and for six months after childbirth.
MP Talaat Abdel Qawi proposed adding a condition that the worker must have been employed for at least six months, but Minister of Labor Mohamed Gibran responded, saying, “It is not permissible to undermine the protection granted to women and children.”
Abdel Qawi also suggested reducing the leave duration to three months and limiting the entitlement to twice instead of three times, citing the population and development strategy, stating, “We are undermining the national strategy.”
MP Mohamed El-Fayoumi supported shortening the leave period and reducing the number of times it can be taken. He noted that the current law grants three months of leave twice and argued that increasing women’s employment rates is necessary, as they are currently low. He warned that this provision could reduce job opportunities for women in the private sector.
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahmoud Fawzi responded, saying, “I cannot differentiate between working women under the labor law and those under the civil service law, both are women, and this provision is for the benefit of the child. The Child Law states this, as does the Civil Service Law. Should we change it in the labor law? The biological nature of women is the same, and the protected interest here is the health of both the mother and the child. The provisions are balanced and align with the broader legislative framework.”
