Egypt’s tripartite collaboration against child labour

Cairo, Egypt (ILO News)– A workshop was inaugurated by H.E. Mohamed Gobran, Minister of Labour; Eric Oechslin, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Cairo Office; and Abdel Monem El-Gamal, Acting President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF).
The workshop, titled “Enhancing the capacity of members of the National Steering Committee (NSC) responsible for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Combatting the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Egypt and Supporting Family (2018-2025) (NAP),” convened participants from various ministries and organizations."

In his opening remarks, Minister Gobran reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to the objectives of the NAP developed in collaboration with the ILO and more than 17 national ministries and institutions.

He called on international partners to enhance cooperation in addressing this “global phenomenon” and expressed optimism about intensified efforts through the Steering Committee—an essential outcome of the productive collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and the ILO in implementing the plan on the ground. The Minister also stressed the importance of upgrading inspection tools through digitization and modernization of the inspection system, in line with Ministerial Decree No. 2015 on the “List of Hazardous Work Prohibited for Children.”

Minister Gobran highlighted the Egyptian government’s dedication to eradicating child labour within supply chains, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, industry, garments, cotton, and aromatic plants, with jasmine serving as a notable example.

Mr. Eric Oechslin underscored the pivotal role of the National Tripartite Steering Committee in coordinating efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. He noted that the workshop exemplifies the commitment of all stakeholders to continue implementing the current Action Plan and to set priorities for the forthcoming one (2026–2030).

Mr. Abdel Monem El-Gamal commended the ILO’s collaboration with Egyptian labour organizations and affirmed the readiness of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation to work with other trade unions in the fight against child labour.

Ms. Marwa Salah, Project Director for Child Labour at the ILO Cairo Office, stated that the workshop was organized based on recommendations from the sixth Steering Committee meeting held in May. The meeting focused on reviewing achievements and strategizing for sustained progress in addressing the six core issues outlined in the National Action Plan.

The workshop brought together Steering Committee members representing the Ministries of Labour, Social Solidarity, Education and Technical Education, Interior, and International Cooperation, as well as the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Al-Azhar Institution, the Agricultural Research Center, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority, and representatives from the General Syndicates of Agriculture and Irrigation, Textile Workers, Small Farmers in Beheira, the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF.