World Bank ranks Egypt most improved in women’s legal rights

Egypt ranked as the most improved country for women’s legal rights between October 2023 and October 2025, jumping nearly 10 points to 48.50 in the legal frameworks index of the World Bank’s Women, Business, and The Law 2026 report (pdf). Driving the improvement was a new labor law introduced in April that scrapped restrictions on women working night shifts and certain jobs labeled hazardous. The law also mandated equal pay for work of equal value, introduced flexible work arrangements, and extended paid maternity leave to 120 days while granting fathers one day of leave.

But despite the improvement, Egypt is still a long way from the global average score of 67. The report points to remaining restrictions on women’s employment, including in certain positions in the energy sector — specifically those connected to the generation, transmission, or conduction of electricity.