Fifteen-year-old Amr (L) helps his friend Hussam to lift a rubbish-filled pail as they clean 28 September 1999 an oven for firing pottery in the Egyptian capital's Old Cairo or al-Fustat pottery district. Scores of children aged between 10 and 15 work in some 100 pottery workshops for a wage of10 Egyptian pounds (3 USD) per day, even though Egypt is among the first 20 countries to ratify the 10-year-old UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)
Egypt’s Minister of Labor, Mohamed Gebran, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eradicating child labor, highlighting substantial progress made under the National Plan to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Support Families.
Speaking in Cairo on Tuesday during the 2025 World Day Against Child Labor event—organized in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and national partners—Gebran declared that Egypt has “made significant progress in combating child labor.”
The event was held under the theme: “Progress is clear, but there is more to come: Let’s accelerate our efforts.”
Gebran emphasized the strategic role of the steering committee established to oversee the national plan, noting its sustained efforts in implementing key initiatives.
“We have been keen to form the steering committee, which has worked tirelessly for many years to achieve its goals,” he said.
The minister highlighted the enhancement of inspection systems across sectors to detect and prevent the employment of children in prohibited and hazardous work environments.
“We have activated oversight and inspection mechanisms for establishments… to apprehend violators and take the necessary legal action,” he stated.
Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance stance on child exploitation, Gebran underscored Egypt’s political will to align national laws with global standards.
“The Egyptian government absolutely rejects any practices that violate children’s rights, especially their exploitation in dangerous and unsafe work environments,” he said.
Egypt has ratified key international conventions, including ILO Conventions No. 138 and 182.
These commitments have been translated into domestic policies such as Ministerial Resolution No. 118 of 2015, which defines hazardous work that children are barred from performing.
Gebran also pointed to the recently passed Labor Law No. 14 of 2025, which strictly prohibits employing children under 15.
The law permits vocational training for children aged 14, as long as it does not interfere with their education.
It also enforces strict penalties for violations and ensures workplace safety for all, including children with disabilities.
The event featured speeches by senior officials, including Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, as well as a documentary showcasing success stories, a theatrical performance by children involved in the ILO’s Sarkha program, and the symbolic signing of a national pledge to accelerate the elimination of child labor in Egypt.
About The Author
