Egypt hands employment contracts to people with disabilities at three firms

Egypt’s Labour Ministry has handed employment contracts to people with disabilities at Vodafone, Palm Hills, and e-Finance on Tuesday, as the government seeks to increase their participation in the private-sector workforce.

The initiative is part of government efforts to enforce legislation requiring private-sector companies to employ people with disabilities under a legally mandated quota, while promoting their inclusion in the workplace, the ministry said in a statement.

Labour Minister Hassan Raddad said inclusion should go beyond meeting the statutory quota to providing training, rehabilitation, and suitable working environments that allow employees with disabilities to remain productive and develop their careers.

“Every employment contract is a real opportunity to build a better life, open new sources of income and demonstrate their abilities as essential partners in work, production, and development,” Raddad said.

The ministry aims to move beyond simply meeting employment quotas and develop a broader system covering training, rehabilitation, employment, retention, and career development, he said.

The government is also encouraging flexible forms of employment, including remote work where the nature of the job allows it, Raddad said.

“The important thing is that every person with a disability has a real opportunity and that we find the appropriate way to enable them to work and be productive,” he said.

The ministry is working with private-sector companies to expand training and employment programmes and align them with labour-market needs, according to the statement.

The initiative is intended to create more opportunities for young people and increase the participation of people with disabilities in the workforce, the ministry said.