When employers in Egypt select and hire employees, their work is still not done. While they may have screened applications carefully and put candidates through multiple rounds of interviews, they still won’t know exactly how well new employees fit in until they can see them on the job. Employees also find their initial employment periods challenging as they try to determine if they’ll fit well with their companies and teams.

To help with these issues, many employers use probation periods for new employees. We’re going to take a look at how these periods are used to the benefit of both employers and employees and examine the laws that regulate probation periods in Egypt.

Definition of a Probation Period in Egypt

If a worker is put under probation, this period starts on their first day of work for the employer. It then becomes a period in which the employer carefully watches the employee and assesses their performance to see if they actually have the skills needed to perform their job properly. Employers also look at how well employees collaborate with their teammates, work under their supervisors, and fit into the company culture in general. If they don’t think the employee will succeed, they can dismiss the worker at any point during or at the end of the probation period.

Employees perform their own assessments during this period as well. They check their own skills and decide if they’ll be able to thrive in their positions. They also decide if they’ll be happy working with their colleagues and under the working conditions the employer provides. If not, they may decide to resign.

If neither party terminates the employment agreement, however, it will continue. In this case, the probationary worker becomes a permanent employee.

Lengths of Probationary Periods in Egypt

Very simply, probationary periods in Egypt are limited to three months in duration. While they can be extended, the length and requirements for these extensions must be included in employment contracts. Even with extensions, however, the total length of probation cannot exceed three months.

Probation periods of one to three months are common, with higher-level jobs requiring more responsibility, usually using the maximum duration.

Legal Considerations of Probation Periods in Egypt

Egypt has multiple legal instruments in place to clarify rules and protect both employers and employees, including the Constitution of the Egyptian Republic 2014 and the Labor Law 2009. These instruments govern probationary periods as follows:

General Rules on Probation

If employers use probationary periods, their details must be stated clearly in employees’ contracts. No employee can be made to undergo probation more than once for the same employer, even if changing jobs within a company. 

Pay and Working Conditions

In many countries, it is allowable to pay workers on probation less than when they are permanent employees, or even to pay them less than the minimum wage. However, this is not permissible in Egypt.

Probationary workers should be paid the same as their permanent counterparts with the exception that permanent workers receive pay rises of 7% annually. Workers also cannot be paid less than the minimum wage which is 7,000 EGP (Egyptian pounds – roughly 140 USD) as of March 2025.

Employers are also obligated to provide safe and healthy working environments for workers along with free protective equipment and safety training. These rules apply equally to probationary workers.

Termination and Notice

During probationary periods in Egypt, employers may terminate workers without reason. They don’t need to provide justifications or proof during this time, so it is considered an “at-will” period. Likewise, employees can resign at any time without providing reasons. While it is best practice for both parties to give each other a fair chance and explain their reasons for the employment relationship not working out, this is not legally required.

Neither is notice required during or at the end of probation periods. Employers and employees are both free to terminate contracts at any time during their contractually stated probation periods. Afterward, however, Egyptian workers are entitled to two months’ notice of dismissal if they have worked fewer than ten years and three months’ notice if they’ve worked for more.

Vacation / Holidays

There are normally 13 days of public holidays in Egypt. All full-time workers, probationary or permanent, are entitled to paid leave on these days if they fall on their normal work days. If a probationary worker is made to work on a public holiday, they must be paid 300% of their normal wages.

All workers are entitled to annual leave of at least 21 days per year or thirty days if they are over 50 years old, plus an extra seven days per year if they’re involved in work that is hazardous or remote.

Probationary workers are entitled to accumulate 1.75 days/month of work and can request to use these days for vacation with 15 days’ notice to the employer.

Benefits of Probation Periods in Egypt

Probation periods can be good for both employers and employees. Some of the benefits they produce include:

  • For Employees

An opportunity to receive extra attention and training from the employer

The chance to try out a job before making a long-term commitment

The possibility of resigning without giving notice

  • For Employers
The opportunity to terminate workers who can’t adapt to their roles effectively.

The ability to dismiss workers without justification or notice and without the requirement to provide them with severance pay

Frequently Asked Questions

No, probation periods are not mandatory. The choice to use them is at the discretion of the employer who can also set their durations.

Yes. In Egypt, employers don’t need to provide notice or justifications when they dismiss probationary workers. Workers also don’t have to give notice if they wish to resign.

Three months is the maximum allowable length of a probationary period and also the most common, especially for technicians, managers, and academic positions.