We are excited by the potential of the ILO’s programme to support the development of industrial relations in Egypt and the role Better Work plays. There is now a new opportunity for our tripartite constituents to improve the environment for freedom of association and the ILO is well-positioned to support them to do so. Better Work’s contribution is to bring its unique collaborative approach to improving social dialogue, working conditions and competitiveness in the garment and textile sector.
Dan Rees, Better Work Branch Chief
Better Work launched a new country programme in Egypt in March 2020 as part of a broader ILO programme called Strengthening Labour Relations and their Institutions in Egypt (SLARIE). Besides the Better Work Egypt component, the SLARIE programme in Egypt has two additional pillars: enhancing mechanisms for inclusive social dialogue and providing technical assistance to Egypt’s tripartite constituents — government, employers and workers — to put the new trade union law into practice. The pace of operational set up of Better Work Egypt in 2020 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of a donor for the programme. Despite these challenges, Better Work Egypt has 40 enrolled factories and is providing services to them.