Maha Abdel-Nasser, a member of Egypt’s House of Representatives from the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted a briefing request to the prime minister and the labor minister over what she described as the “systematic exclusion” of delivery workers from labor protections, even after the issuance of the new Labor Law.
In her request, Abdel-Nasser said delivery workers, who transport food, goods, and services via digital platforms, restaurants, shops, or intermediaries, operate under flexible or irregular arrangements using motorcycles, bicycles, or cars, in a rapidly expanding sector that remains largely unregulated.
She cited government disclosures from August 2022 indicating the presence of six million delivery workers, noting that the figure has not been updated and may have doubled since then as platform-based services expanded.
According to data drawn from field investigations and specialized surveys, 63 percent of delivery workers have been involved in accidents or injuries while on the job, yet only 2 percent received compensation. The figures also show that 80 percent work without contracts, 97 percent are not socially insured, and just 12 percent have any form of health insurance.
The data further revealed that 48 percent were forced to sign promissory notes or trust receipts, 54 percent faced unjustified wage deductions, and 21.5 percent were subjected to arbitrary dismissal, while 97 percent reported feeling no financial or social security.
Abdel-Nasser said these conditions persist despite the enactment of Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, which introduced legal frameworks for new forms of work. She pointed to Article 99, which requires clear written contracts, paper or electronic, for such arrangements, noting that, in practice, many delivery workers are classified as “service providers” rather than employees, thereby stripping them of labor-law protections.
She added that government promises made in mid-2025 to issue executive regulations tailored to the delivery of work have yet to materialize, with no decisions announced or a regulatory framework presented to parliament.
The MP also questioned the effectiveness of the Labor Ministry’s “Your Safety Matters” campaign, launched to improve training, protective equipment, and compliance with occupational safety standards, citing a lack of transparency regarding enforcement mechanisms, penalties, inspection results, and handled complaints.
She further raised questions about proposals to establish special funds to cover accident risks and medical treatment for delivery workers, asking whether such funds have been created, on what legal basis, how they would be financed and managed, and whether they would complement or replace social and health insurance.
Abdel-Nasser warned that leaving millions of workers outside the social protection system violates constitutional guarantees of decent work, health, and social security, and risks turning occupational hazards into broader humanitarian and economic crises.
She called for urgent government intervention to regulate the sector, enforce genuine employment contracts, and strike a balance between labor-market flexibility and workers’ rights, urging the executive to clarify its plans before parliament.
In July, Egypt’s Ministry of Labour rolled out a nationwide campaign, “Your Safety Matters,” aimed at improving safety standards and working conditions for delivery workers, particularly uninsured and unregistered youth, according to an official statement.
In its initial phase, the campaign targeted delivery workers using motorcycles, bicycles, or cars, whether affiliated with digital platforms or operating independently.
The ministry said it would distribute safety equipment, including helmets, reflective vests, gloves, masks, and first-aid kits, free of charge to the most vulnerable workers, and would launch a nationwide inspection plan to enforce occupational safety standards.
The programme also includes road-safety awareness efforts and training in cooperation with partner companies, which are expected to share worker data, help improve working conditions, and assist in distributing protective gear.
A dedicated safety guide and code of conduct for delivery workers was being developed, covering safe driving practices, equipment standards, training requirements, and workers’ rights, in line with international benchmarks and adapted to local conditions.
As part of broader efforts to integrate delivery workers into the formal protection system, the ministry said it plans to register them under the irregular labor database, enabling access to social and health insurance, pensions, and workplace injury coverage, with companies contributing to a central fund in accordance with regulations.
A hotline and online platform were also set to be launched to receive complaints and inquiries from delivery workers, with mechanisms for follow-up and field response.
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