The Legal Environment of Women Labor Force Participation and the Gap between Constitution and Labor Laws

Improving women’s income-earning ability contributes to promoting economic development in developing economies. The International Labor Organization (ILO) points out that paid and unpaid work by women can be a critical factor in poverty reduction in developing economies. In Egypt, while women make significant contributions as both workers and employers, they have yet to reach their full economic potential, and they remain disadvantaged in the labor market in important respects. The aim of this study is to prepare a detailed report of the gap identified between the articles of the Constitution and existing laws; deepen the gap analysis with the Constitution;and put forth specific proposals for amending these laws, including a plan of action, performance indicators and a time horizon with delineation of responsibilities. This study comes within the framework of a report on the empowerment of women, which will form an essential part of the women’s empowerment strategy prepared by the National Council for Women in collaboration with the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies.