Court of Appeal Orders the Egyptian Association for Social Defense to Increase Compensation for an Arbitrarily Dismissed Worker to EGP 160,000

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights obtained a judgment from the Cairo Labor Court of Appeal increasing the compensation awarded to the worker “Amal F.” for arbitrary dismissal and for the cash equivalent of her unused leave balance, raising the total compensation to EGP 160,000, instead of EGP 55,219.50.

The facts of the case date back to the claimant’s employment with the Egyptian General Association for Social Defense, where she worked as a Supervisor as of 1 March 2002. On 26 February 2019, Minister of Social Solidarity Decree No. 75 was issued, withdrawing the assignment of the Home for the Mentally Disabled project in Old Cairo from the association and reassigning it to the National Foundation for Family and Community Development in Old Cairo. The claimant continued to work without interruption, thereby rendering the employment relationship continuous from the commencement of her service until the date of her dismissal on 1 April 2024, in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Law.

On 1 April 2024, the claimant was taken by surprise when she was denied access to her workplace without any legitimate justification. This prompted her to file an Incident Report No. 5506 (Administrative) at Al-Marg Police Station on the same date, to document her prevention from entering the workplace and her arbitrary dismissal. Despite her repeated attempts, she received no response from her employer.

The claimant subsequently filed a complaint with the Old Cairo Labor Office. After amicable settlement efforts failed, the dispute was referred to the Labor Court and registered under Case No. 1274 of 2024, before Circuit 17, South Cairo Primary Labor Court.

In its session held on 19 December 2024, the court ruled that the defendant, in its legal capacity, shall pay the claimant material and moral compensation exceeding EGP 55,000 for the damages resulting from the arbitrary termination of her employment. The court also ordered the defendant to issue her a certificate of employment covering her period of service, including the data stipulated under Article 130 of the Labor Law.

As neither party accepted the judgment, the institution filed Appeal No. 421 of Judicial Year 142, while the worker—through the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights—filed Appeal No. 380 of Judicial Year 142. The two appeals were consolidated due to the unity of parties and subject matter.

In its session held on 10 December 2025, the Court of Appeal issued its judgment rejecting Appeal No. 421 of Judicial Year 142 filed by the institution, ordering it to bear court costs and to pay EGP 100 in attorney’s fees.

The court also accepted Appeal No. 380 of Judicial Year 142 filed by the worker, annulled the appealed judgment insofar as it had rejected her entitlement to the cash equivalent of her unused leave balance, and ruled that the respondents, jointly and severally, shall pay the worker EGP 104,272 as compensation for her accrued but unused leave. The court upheld the appealed judgment in all other respects.

Accordingly, the total amount awarded to the claimant was increased to EGP 160,000, instead of EGP 55,219.50