The Egyptian cabinet has issued a decree to set up the Supreme Council for Community Dialogue, which will contribute to outlining “national policies on societal dialogue” on labour affairs.

The council will also conduct economic and social studies and offer advice on bills concerning the workforce, labour unions and Arab and international labour agreements, according to a decree published in the official state gazette on Friday.

The body, which will be headed by the country’s manpower minister, will also be in charge of settling collective labour disputes and introducing measures to back economic projects that offer job opportunities.

The council will comprise representatives from several ministries including social solidarity, investment, justice, trade and industry and tourism. It will also include board members or chiefs of concerned “business owner organisations” and board members or heads of concerned trade unions.

The decree to set up the new council was first issued in 2014.

Earlier this month, the cabinet approved new amendments on how the body will be formed.