Child labour in Egypt: New regulations won’t end poverty – Qantara.de

Child Labour in Egypt: A Barrier to Sustainable Development

Child labour remains a pervasive issue in Egypt, presenting a significant challenge to the nation’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The practice, visible in workshops, factories, and street vending, directly contravenes foundational goals including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and most notably, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), specifically Target 8.7, which calls for the eradication of child labour in all its forms by 2025.

The Scope of the Crisis and its Conflict with SDG 8

Statistical Overview

Recent data indicates a worsening crisis that undermines efforts to secure decent work for all. The prevalence of child labour poses a direct threat to achieving SDG 8.

• In 2021, an estimated 1.3 million children, or 4.9% of the child population in Egypt, were engaged in labour.
• Approximately 900,000 of these children were exposed to hazardous working conditions.
• By 2023, surveys from the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood suggested the number had risen to over 2.7 million children.

Human Impact and Violation of SDG Target 8.7

Individual cases highlight the severe consequences of this phenomenon. Karim Abdallah, a primary school student, works late hours selling sweets to support his family, often in dangerous traffic. His long hours in a previous workshop job for minimal pay exemplify the exploitation targeted for elimination under SDG Target 8.7. Similarly, 14-year-old Mustafa works for six hours each morning before attending evening classes, demonstrating the dual burden that compromises both childhood and future potential.

Socio-Economic Drivers Contravening SDG 1 and SDG 4

The Central Role of Poverty (SDG 1)

Economic necessity is the primary driver forcing children into the workforce, a direct consequence of challenges related to SDG 1 (No Poverty). A 2024 World Bank report noted that Egypt’s poverty rate had increased to over 30%. This economic pressure normalises child labour within society. Research indicates the problem is more acute in rural areas, where higher poverty rates exacerbate the conditions that lead to child labour, thereby deepening inequalities addressed by SDG 10.

Erosion of Quality Education (SDG 4)

The imperative for children to work directly undermines SDG 4 (Quality Education). Many children are forced to leave school early or are unable to focus on their studies due to exhausting labour. This cycle of interrupted education perpetuates poverty across generations, preventing the realisation of inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

National Response and Institutional Framework (SDG 16)

Egypt has developed a legislative and programmatic framework to address child labour, reflecting an engagement with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). However, the effectiveness of this framework remains a critical concern.

Legislative Measures

A new labour law was implemented with several key provisions aimed at protecting children:

1. It criminalises child labour, defining certain forms as “indirect begging.”
2. It establishes the minimum legal age for work at 15 years.
3. It prohibits any work that prevents a child from completing their education.
4. It restricts working hours, banning work between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and in hazardous environments.

Government Initiatives

The government has launched several initiatives, often in partnership with international bodies, to align with global standards and the 2030 Agenda.

• A national plan, developed with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), aims to combat the worst forms of child labour.
• “Child labour control units” have been established within the Ministry of Manpower.
• Support has been provided for vocational training and microprojects for families with working children.
• The “Solidarity and Dignity” initiative offers financial aid to impoverished families on the condition that their children attend school.

Implementation Gaps and Recommendations for Achieving SDG Targets

Critiques of Current Strategies

Despite these measures, human rights advocates report significant gaps between policy and practice. Critics argue that national plans are often superficial and lack effective implementation. The financial support provided through programs like “Solidarity and Dignity,” amounting to approximately 900 pounds (16 euros) per month, is insufficient to counteract the effects of inflation, thus failing to adequately address the root cause of poverty as targeted by SDG 1.

Path Forward for SDG Alignment

To effectively address child labour and align with its SDG commitments, a more robust and comprehensive approach is required.

1. Strengthen enforcement mechanisms and provide sufficient resources for monitoring bodies to ensure compliance with labour laws, reinforcing SDG 16.
2. Expand social safety nets to include all families in need and adjust financial assistance to reflect rising inflation rates, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 1.
3. Enhance the role of institutions such as the National Council for Childhood to conduct inspections and coordinate support for vulnerable families.
4. Address the specific vulnerabilities of refugee children and those in rural areas to promote reduced inequalities, in line with SDG 10.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article explicitly identifies poverty as the primary driver of child labor in Egypt. It states, “The risk of child labour rises with poverty and family size. Economic necessity is what pushes children into the workforce,” and quotes a human rights lawyer who attributes the increase in child exploitation to “the poor economic situation and lack of social assistance.” The mention of a rising poverty rate (over 30%) directly links the issue to this goal.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article establishes a clear conflict between child labor and education. It notes that under the new law, “work must not prevent children from completing their education.” It also highlights the problem of “early school leavers” and mentions a government initiative, “Solidarity and Dignity,” which provides financial support to families on the condition that their children return to school.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire text revolves around the issue of child labor, its prevalence (“ubiquitous in Egypt”), its dangerous forms (“hazardous working environments”), and legislative efforts to curb it. The article discusses working hours, minimum age for work, and the government’s national plan for “combating the worst forms of child labour.”

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article points to the heightened vulnerability of specific groups, thereby addressing the goal of reducing inequalities. It specifically mentions that “refugee children are also affected by exploitation” and that they are the “group most vulnerable to exploitation,” highlighting the precarious situation of Sudanese children in Greater Cairo.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article touches upon the protection of children from exploitation and the role of law and institutions. It discusses a new labor law that criminalizes child labor, the need for better enforcement, and the role of government bodies like the Ministry of Manpower and the National Council for Childhood. A human rights lawyer is quoted saying, “The exploitation of children and violations of their rights have increased,” which directly relates to the goal of ending abuse and exploitation of children.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

  The article directly connects to this target by stating that “Egypt’s poverty rate increased to over 30 percent” and identifying poverty as the “key factor” driving children to work.

• Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

  The “Solidarity and Dignity” initiative, described as a program offering “financial support to impoverished families,” is a direct example of a social protection system aimed at addressing the root causes of child labor. The article also mentions the need to expand such programs.

• Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

  The article highlights the “growing number of children leaving school to work” and mentions that the law stipulates work must not prevent children from completing their education, directly addressing the challenge of ensuring educational completion.

• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour… and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.

  This target is the core subject of the article. It details the prevalence of child labor in Egypt, the government’s “national plan for ‘combating the worst forms of child labour’,” and the new law aimed at curbing it.

• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…

  The article describes the dangerous conditions many child laborers face, such as working “from six in the morning until seven in the evening,” walking “between cars on the main road to sell his goods,” and the tragic accident where a truck carrying 20 girls overturned. This highlights the urgent need for safer working environments.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… origin… or other status.

  The article’s specific mention of Sudanese refugee children being the “group most vulnerable to exploitation” directly relates to the need to protect and include marginalized and vulnerable populations, irrespective of their origin or refugee status.

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

  The article frames child labor as “the exploitation of children and violations of their rights,” which aligns perfectly with this target’s goal of ending all forms of child exploitation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 1.2: The proportion of the population living below the national poverty line.

  The article provides a specific figure: “According to a 2024 World Bank report, Egypt’s poverty rate increased to over 30 percent that year.” This statistic can be used directly to measure progress (or lack thereof) towards poverty reduction.

• Indicator for Target 1.3: The proportion of the population covered by social protection systems.

  While not giving a total coverage number, the article mentions the “Solidarity and Dignity” initiative and its payment amount (“900 pounds per month”). The call to expand such programs implies that current coverage is insufficient, and tracking the number of families supported by this and similar initiatives would serve as an indicator.

• Indicator for Target 8.7: The proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor.

  The article provides several explicit data points for this indicator:

  • “In 2021, an estimated 4.9 percent of children in Egypt worked, around 1.3 million in total.”
  • “the number rose to more than 2.7 million children by 2023”
  • “Some 900,000 of them were exposed to hazardous conditions.”
• Indicator for Target 4.1: The completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education).

  The article implies a negative trend for this indicator by referring to the “growing number of children leaving school to work.” A direct measurement would involve tracking school dropout and completion rates, especially among children from low-income families.

• Indicator for Target 16.2: The number of children subjected to exploitation.

  The figure of “more than 2.7 million children” engaged in labor in 2023 can be used as a direct proxy indicator for the number of children subjected to economic exploitation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: qantara.de