Employer of Record in Egypt

Hiring independent contractors has boomed in popularity because of the cost savings and flexibility they offer. It can be a great option if you require niche skills or short-term project support. Contractors allow businesses to access specialized skills quickly, without the time and cost of setting up a local entity.

However, it’s important to know the limits of this model: contractors are not a substitute for full-time employees. Relying on them for ongoing, long-term roles can create serious compliance risks, including employee misclassification, which can lead to fines, back taxes, and reputational damage.

Playroll’s contractor management solutions make it simple to compliantly engage, onboard, and pay contractors around the world. We provide clear visibility into agreements, streamline payments, and reduce compliance risks – so you can focus on getting the work done. And when you’re ready to take the next step, we can help seamlessly convert contractors into full-time employees through our global Employer of Record service.

Businesses can only operate smoothly in Egypt if they comply with local labor laws including drafting compliant employment contract agreements and meeting taxation and payroll obligations. Learn more about the employment laws and regulations in Egypt below, to avoid any compliance issues.

Employment Contract Requirements

Written documentation is a requirement for employment contracts in Egypt. These contracts are issued in Arabic, with three copies provided: one for the employer's records, one for the employee, and another for the social security authority. Details include:

• Job description
• Employment start date
• Duration of the employment
• Termination conditions

Onboarding Process

We can help you get a new employee started in Egypt quickly, with a minimum onboarding time of just 1-2 working days. The timeline starts once the employee submits all required information onto the Playroll platform and completes any necessary local authority registrations. For non-nationals, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) may add up to three extra days. Additional time may be needed for follow-ups on this assessment. Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual start date. Playroll's payroll cut-off date is the 10th of each month unless otherwise specified.

Working Hours in Egypt

The typical work week in Egypt is from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday being the weekend. The standard working hours vary, but a common practice is an eight-hour workday, resulting in a 40-hour work week.

Overtime in Egypt

Employees receive an overtime premium of 35% for daytime work, 70% for nighttime work, and 100% for work done on days off and holidays.

Probation Period in Egypt

Probation periods are mandatory in Egypt, ranging from a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 90 days (3 months). During this period, employers may terminate the contract without reason and without severance.

Global expansion shouldn't mean losing time to paperwork or dealing with complicated, country-specific HR systems. An Employer of Record helps you keep your focus on talent by handling the operational side of employment in Egypt. That includes onboarding, contract management, payroll processing, and statutory compliance, all aligned with local laws and best practices. The EOR guarantees that employees are legally employed and properly supported from day one.

This streamlined setup allows you to prioritize recruiting the best people and integrating them into your company culture. Your team stays lean, and you avoid getting caught up in the details of local processes or shifting regulations. For founders, global hiring managers, or HR teams working across borders, an EOR multiplies your impact, reducing admin time, preventing errors, and helping ensure that new hires have a smooth experience from the get-go.

Managing payroll taxes in Egypt requires careful attention to a complex system of progressive income tax rates, social security contributions, and health insurance payments. Employers must withhold income tax at rates ranging from 0% to 27.5% based on employee earnings, while also contributing 18.75% of salaries (up to EGP 14,500 monthly) for social security and 3.25% for health insurance.

Monthly submissions are due by the 15th of the following month, with an annual reconciliation required by January 31st. Proper registration with the Egyptian Tax Authority and National Organization for Social Insurance is essential within 15 days of hiring employees.

Using payroll management software can help employers consolidate payroll data, automate complex calculations, and stay compliant with Egypt's evolving tax regulations, reducing the risk of penalties and ensuring accurate and timely payments to both employees and authorities.

Hiring in Egypt means taking on local payroll obligations, which often include unique tax rates, contribution rules, and strict documentation. If you're not familiar with the system, or don't have a local entity, it’s easy to make mistakes. That’s where an Employer of Record ccomes in. The EOR manages payroll for your team on your behalf, ensuring every process is accurate, timely, and legally compliant.

Key Ways an EOR Supports Payroll in Egypt:

• Full Legal Compliance: Ensures all payments, deductions, and filings meet country-specific requirements.
• Payroll Setup & Processing: Handles salary calculations, tax withholdings, and local reporting obligations.
• Statutory Benefit Contributions: Pays into required social programs and manages country-mandated benefits.
• Employee Documentation: Generates compliant contracts and manages hiring and termination paperwork.
• Local Currency Payouts: Delivers salaries in local currency, avoiding delays or exchange rate issues for employees.

In Egypt, employing foreign nationals requires securing work permits such as the Temporary/Tourist Visa or the Ordinary Visa. The process involves thorough documentation, compliance with labor quotas, and health clearances. Employers must initiate applications early and ensure all requirements are met to avoid delays. Legal consultation is recommended to navigate Egypt's strict regulations.

Mandatory Leave Entitlement in Egypt

The annual leave entitlement in Egypt is 15 days for a full time worker, (21 days from the second year of employment). These can include public holidays on top of that or within those days, which would otherwise be unpaid. Annual leave increases to 30 days for those with ten years of consecutive service or aged over 50.

Public Holidays In Egypt

Egypt observes 12 national holidays over 15 days:

Paid Time Off in Egypt

In Egypt, employees get 21 days of paid annual leave after one year of continuous employment. Employees in their first year receive 15 days of paid leave. Annual leave increases to 30 days for those with ten years of consecutive service or aged over 50.

Maternity Leave In Egypt

Pregnant employees with 10 consecutive months of work are eligible for 4 months of paid leave, receiving 100% of their salary up to a maximum of 12,600 EGP per month, covered by social security.

Paternity Leave In Egypt

As of 1 October 2025, paternity leave for employees is legally recognised.

Sick Leave In Egypt

Employees can receive paid sick leave for up to one year, with varying rates and pay sources depending on the duration:

1. During the initial 90 days of sick leave, employees receive 75% of their salary.
2. Employees are paid 85% of their salary for the subsequent 90 days of sick leave.

Parental Leave In Egypt

For companies with over 50 employees, mothers are eligible for 24 months of unpaid leave per child. Female employees can exercise this option twice during their entire tenure.

Casual Leave

Employees can take up to six days off annually without stating a reason, with a maximum of 2 days per leave. These days are included in the annual leave count.

Pilgrimage Leave

Following five consecutive years of service, employees are entitled to one month of paid leave for a pilgrimage to Mecca or Jerusalem. This leave is granted once during the employee's tenure with the employer.

When hiring across multiple countries, maintaining consistency in how you deliver employee benefits quickly gets tricky. Each country, including Egypt, has its own legal rules, cultural norms, and contribution systems. An Employer of Record helps you strike the right balance between global structure and local compliance. They take over the complexity of delivering benefits that are aligned with Egypt’s legal requirements and competitive with local market expectations.

From ensuring statutory benefits are in place to managing local onboarding timelines and enrollment systems, the EOR provides a seamless experience for both employer and employee. This makes it easier to grow your team across borders without reinventing your benefits process in each new location. You stay in control of your overall benefits strategy, while the EOR takes care of executing it in a way that works legally and culturally in Egypt. It’s a smarter way to scale benefits globally without losing local relevance.

Termination Process in Egypt

In Egypt, employers may not terminate employees at will outside of the probation period. To terminate, they must appear before a Ministry committee within 10 days of the request; if approved, the employee can still contest the dismissal in court. Appropriate reasons for termination include:

1. Voluntarily by the employee
2. Mutual agreement
3. Underperformance due to unsuitability for the role
4. Expiration of the contract

Notice Period in Egypt

As of October 2025, there is a 3 month notice period, regardless of the duration of the employment relationship for all unlimited-term contracts.

Severance in Egypt

In Egypt, severance pay isn't mandatory unless the termination was unjust. Throughout the notice period, the employee continues to receive their regular salary.