Japanese businesses secure regulatory support and work permit assurances during talks with Egyptian labour ministry

Egypt’s Ministry of Labor has launched an “Investor Facilitation Unit” to streamline regulatory procedures, with Minister Hassan Radad pledging on Sunday to resolve challenges regarding foreign work permits to encourage the expansion of Japanese businesses in the domestic market. Radad announced the measure during a meeting at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital with representatives of Japanese companies operating in Egypt, attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt, Fumio Iwai. The gathering focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in labour, investment, and vocational training. During the session, Radad listened to operational challenges raised by the Japanese representatives, primarily concerning procedures for foreign work permits and inquiries related to the application of the labour law and labour relations.

The minister affirmed the ministry’s commitment to studying and addressing these challenges in coordination with relevant authorities to remove obstacles, support the stability of corporate operations, and encourage further capital injections. Regarding foreign work permits, Radad confirmed the ministry’s dedication to expediting the review of applications and inquiries within the regulatory framework to ensure procedural efficiency. Radad explained that the newly founded “Investor Facilitation Unit” is designed to enhance direct communication with business owners, simplify services under the ministry’s jurisdiction, and assist facilities in applying labour legislation. He added that the ministry is continuously developing its investor services to create an attractive investment climate and support private sector partnerships, in implementation of directives from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. To support legislative compliance,…