Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
The Government of Egypt has been a member of ILO-IPEC since 1996.[1469] In 2000, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) launched the Second Decade of Protection and Welfare of Children action program that included a component to reintegrate working children into schools, their families, and the community.[1470] In 2002, the NCCM designed a National Program for the Progressive Elimination of Child Labor focusing on interventions to alleviate poverty, especially among female heads of households, and to provide psychosocial and educational services to children in four governorates.[1471] The NCCM further coordinates policy dialogue between key ministries and local authorities. Among other child labor initiatives, the NCCM launched a pilot program designed to protect and improve the working conditions of child workers and provide them education and health services, as well as income generation activities for their families.[1472] In 2003, the NCCM set up a hotline to receive calls from children in distress, particularly those who complain of working in unsafe or unhealthful conditions.[1473] Also in 2003 the NCCM organized workshops in four governorates with the highest rates of working children to create awareness of the social and economic problems created by child labor, especially its worst forms. It is anticipated that the reports of these and subsequent workshops on child labor will be used by policy-makers.[1474] In 2000, the government established a Child Labor Unit (CLU) within the Ministry of Manpower and Migration (MOMM) to coordinate investigations of reports of child labor violations and to ensure enforcement of the laws pertaining to child labor.[1475] In 2003 ILO Egypt worked with the NCCM, the MOMM, the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, and UNICEF to begin formulation of a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.[1476] In 2003, the CLU provided training to labor inspectors; worked to establish a database on working children; and organized a media campaign to increase public awareness of the issue.[1477]
ILO-IPEC and the government have collaborated on several initiatives to combat child labor, at least five of which are ongoing.[1478] Current projects include a direct action program to contribute to the progressive elimination of child labor in leather tanneries, pottery kilns, and other hazardous industries,[1479] and a collaborative project with the U.S. Customs Service and the Arab Labor Organization to provide technical assistance to the CLU.[1480] Other ILO-IPEC programs involve public awareness raising, capacity building, and interventions, including a community project that aims to withdraw children from hazardous work in auto repair workshops, and textile and plastics factories.[1481] In 2003, USAID funded a collaborative project with international and local trade unions to train local child labor inspectors. The training was followed by the formation of community child labor committees (CLCs) in nine villages to survey child labor in those areas.[1482]
The Government of Egypt is committed to battling illiteracy and bridging the gender gap in education.[1483] A National Taskforce for Girls’ Education, comprising members of key ministries, authorities, UN agencies, and members of civil society, was formed in October 2001.[1484] To this end, a number of measures have been taken, including the establishment of one-room schools for girls, community schools for children ages 9 to 13 years old, and mainstreaming graduates of those schools into preparatory schools.[1485]
The World Bank’s Education Enhancement Program Project was developed to enhance the Ministry of Education’s stated goals of ensuring universal access to basic education, with an emphasis on girls, and improving the quality of education.[1486] Egypt was the first country to officially join the UN Girls’ Education Initiative.[1487] Since 1992, UNICEF has supported the Girl Child Initiative with the Community Schools Programme.[1488] USAID is funding a number of education projects, including the New Schools Program, which targets over 28,000 girls from ages 6 to 14 years, who have never attended school, or have dropped out. Another USAID project supports the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).[1489] These activities are intended to expand educational opportunities for girls not enrolled in formal education through scholarships and other incentives. In 2002, an initiative for boys was also launched.[1490] By building new schools within walking distance of homes, increasing the number of female teachers, and providing grants, uniforms, and meals to children at school, enrollment and attendance have improved.[1491]
Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
In 2001, the ILO estimated that 8.8 percent of children ages 10 to 14 years in Egypt were working.[1492] Studies have suggested that rural children and children from poor households account for the overwhelming majority of working children.[1493] Rural children are largely found working in the agricultural sector[1494], particularly on cotton-farming cooperatives.[1495] Reports indicate a widespread practice of poor rural families making arrangements to send daughters to cities to work as domestic servants in the homes of wealthy citizens.[1496] Urban areas are also host to large numbers of street children who have left their homes in the country-side to find work, and often to flee hostile conditions at home.[1497] Street children work shining shoes, begging, cleaning and parking cars, and selling food and trinkets.[1498] Street children are particularly vulnerable to being forced into illicit activities, including stealing, smuggling, pornography, and prostitution.[1499] Children in urban areas also work in leather tanneries, pottery kilns,[1500] glassworks,[1501] blacksmith, metal and copper workshops, battery and carpentry shops,[1502] auto repair workshops, and textile and plastics factories.[1503] While there are no official accounts of trafficking in the country,[1504] some reports indicate that Egypt is a country of transit for child trafficking.[1505]
The Constitution guarantees free and compulsory basic education for children ages 6 to 15.[1506] In 2000, the gross primary enrollment rate was 99.6 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 92.6 percent.[1507] Girls’ enrollment and attendance still lags behind that of boys.[1508] In 2000, the gross primary enrollment rate for girls was 96.1 percent, compared to 102.9 percent for boys. The net primary enrollment rate was 90.3 percent for girls, compared to 94.9 percent for boys. [1509] Primary school attendance rates are unavailable for Egypt. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children’s participation in school.[1510] A 2000 national survey of children ages 6 to 15 found that 14 percent of girls were not currently attending school, compared to 8 percent of boys.[1511] Working and street children are predominantly school dropouts or have never been enrolled in school.[1512] In the past a number of NGOs have worked to provide literacy programs, medical care, shelter, meals and protection to working street children.[1513] However, a law was passed in June 2002 that severely restricts the capacity of NGOs to continue work on this issue.[1514]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The Government of Egypt ratified a new labor law in June 2003 prohibiting the employment of male and female juveniles below the age of 14. The new law also sets maximum hours for the employment of children in addition to employment conditions; the law does not apply, however, to children working in the agricultural sector. Ministerial decrees that complement the labor law compensate for this shortcoming, especially Decree No. 118 of 2003, which prohibits children below 16 from working in 44 hazardous professions, including agricultural activities.[1515] The new labor law also stipulates penalties pertaining to the employment of children, which include fines that range from 500 to 1,000 Egyptian pounds (about USD 81 to 163) per employee.[1516] The Children’s Code and Labor Law of 1996 permits children ages 12 and older to participate in training for seasonal employment provided the work does not interfere with their health, growth, or school attendance.[1517] The law also prohibits children from working over 6 hours per day or for more than 4 consecutive hours, at night, overtime, or during their weekly day off.[1518] The Constitution does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons; however, it does prohibit forced labor and prostitution.[1519]
The MOMM is the government agency responsible for enforcing child labor laws.[1520] The government’s enforcement of child labor laws is inconsistent. In state-owned enterprises, enforcement is adequate while enforcement in the private and informal sectors is inadequate.[1521]
The Government of Egypt ratified ILO Convention 138 on June 9, 1999, and ratified ILO Convention 182 on May 6, 2002.[1522]
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