7 Middle East Countries With Labour Rights Reforms in 2025

Walk through a construction zone in Dubai at noon and the sound of drills stops suddenly. Crews pull back before the heat scorches. In Beirut, families talk about higher pay packets that finally cover rent. Across the Middle East, labour rights reforms in 2025 are changing the daily rhythm of work.

It connects to wider conversations too. International Labour Day 2025 history and meaning reminds us how long workers have pushed for fairness. And celebrity human rights activists show that voices outside the workplace still push governments to move faster.

Snapshot of Labour Reforms in 2025

Country	Reform Type	Focus Area	Status
Saudi Arabia	Classification & labour law update	Worker mobility, inspections, ILO projects	Active
Qatar	Legal update for domestic workers	Minimum wage, exit permits, job mobility	Active
Lebanon	Wage increase	Minimum wage hike, allowances	Implemented Aug 2025
Egypt	New labour law	Safety, flexible work, dispute resolution	Effective Sept 2025
Bahrain	Draft labour law amendments + WPS	Job security, hiring transparency, payments	Under review
Jordan	Amendments & wage raise	Equal pay, anti-discrimination, wage increase	Enforced 2025
UAE	Heat protection & contract rules	Midday work ban, probation clarity	Active, monitored

7 Middle East Countries with Major Labour Reforms in 2025

Governments across the region rolled out reforms that affect millions of workers. Some laws target pay. Others tackle safety. A few chip away at restrictions that tied migrant labour to one employer for years.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia moved from rigid job titles to skill-based categories. Workers can switch jobs if employers break the rules, something that used to be near impossible. Labour inspections are more common, and joint projects with the International Labour Organization are pushing oversight further.

Qatar

For the first time, domestic workers are written into stronger protections. The universal minimum wage applies to them. Exit permits, once a symbol of control, are gone for most jobs. Abuse still surfaces, but legal ground has shifted in the worker’s favour.

Lebanon

The cabinet approved a wage hike in August, lifting the minimum to 28 million pounds from 18 million. Allowances for families and schools were added too. In homes where grocery bills eat up salaries, that raise felt like air after years of suffocation.

Egypt

Egypt brought in Labour Law No. 14 of 2025. It recognises remote work and part-time contracts, adds safety layers, and promises faster dispute resolution. Old codes had no room for modern jobs. Informal workers still worry, but at least there’s now a framework that reflects reality.

Bahrain

Draft amendments under review aim at job security. They clarify dismissal rules and make it mandatory to post vacancies publicly. Salaries must go through banks under the Wage Protection System. Workers are watching closely, since pay delays and unfair dismissals were routine complaints for years.

Jordan

The minimum wage climbed to 290 dinars. A modest rise, yet it matters when food and rent stretch paychecks thin. Laws against gender discrimination are now enforced more actively, and overtime pay has clearer boundaries. Outsourcing rules are also under sharper eyes, cutting down employer tricks.

United Arab Emirates

Summer heat in the UAE can melt tar on the road. The midday work ban stopped outdoor labour during those dangerous hours. Compliance was nearly total this year. Employment law changes also refined probation periods, reducing disputes about contracts. Workers know where they stand with less guesswork.

Regional Direction Beyond 2025

Put together, these reforms show a region moving forward but unevenly. Lebanon and Jordan tackled pay. Saudi Arabia and Qatar focused on mobility. Egypt and Bahrain modernised their codes. The UAE leaned on heat protection and contract clarity.

Enforcement is the thorn in the side. A law written in neat print doesn’t stop a foreman from holding passports or delaying wages. Domestic workers, especially women, still report cramped housing and long hours. Yet compared with years where nothing changed, 2025 stands out.

Governments balance three forces: pressure from international partners, the need for economic growth, and unrest from workers themselves. The changes may not be perfect, but they shift the tone. Factory floors, construction sites, even homes where domestic staff work—people are talking about rights, not just survival.

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