Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Egypt (Ratification: 1982)

Article 1(1) of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies and programmes closely linked with employment. In its previous comments, the Committee invited the Government to provide information on the manner in which the different measures implemented have contributed to the promotion of access to education, training, and lifelong learning. The Committee welcomes the information provided in the Government’s report concerning the vocational training programmes developed at the training centres attached to the Ministry of Manpower, including the transformational training programme, the vocational upbringing programme, the exceptional training programme, and the step by step occupational programme. The Committee notes that the four-month transformational training programme aims to reduce unemployment by assisting young graduates with intermediate and higher qualifications to obtain additional skills needed due to the changing requirements of the labour market, and that the participants range in age from 18 to 45. The vocational upbringing and step by step programmes also focus on young persons from 13 to 18 and 13 to 17 years of age, respectively, whereas the exceptional training programme does not establish conditions based on age or qualifications. With regard to the manner in which coordination is ensured among the institutions responsible for developing comprehensive and coordinated vocational guidance and training policies, the Government reports that the Supreme Council for Human Resources Development has been revitalized, with the aim of formulating a national policy in coordination with the relevant bodies. In this context, the Committee notes the establishment of other relevant bodies, such as the Executive Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training established by Decree No. 796 of 2014, issued by the Prime Minister. The Executive Council is tasked with the planning and coordination of the technical education and vocational training system at the level of the State’s educational institutions. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the number of participants in the different vocational guidance and training programmes made available by the Government and, in particular, on their impact in relation to access to lasting employment. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which it promotes effective access to vocational guidance, training and lifelong learning for all workers, including for older workers, the long-term unemployed and persons belonging to disadvantaged groups who may require upskilling or reskilling as a result of the changing needs of the labour market. In addition, the Committee invites the Government to provide information on the activities and functioning of each of the different relevant bodies, such as the Supreme Council for Human Resources Development and the Executive Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, in relation to the coordinated development of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes, and to provide detailed information on the specific measures taken or envisaged to ensure such coordination.

Articles 3 and 5. Vocational guidance. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee invited the Government to provide information on the impact of measures taken to raise awareness of the benefits of vocational training, as well as on the involvement of the social partners in the design and delivery of vocational training and guidance programmes. The Government reports that, according to research carried out annually by the Ministry of Manpower, an increase has been recorded in the number of graduates and beneficiaries of training centres as a result of the vocational guidance and training measures implemented. The Government reports that the number of graduates from vocational training centres has reached 120,505 at the national level. This group includes educational dropouts, those with technical diplomas and those with few or no qualifications. It adds that education and training curricula are developed by the Supreme Council for Human Resources Development through the TVET2 project, taking into account labour market needs. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the vocational guidance tests used in connection with the so-called quick training programmes carried out by the Ministry for boys aged 12–18 and adults aged 18–45. The Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the impact of measures taken to raise awareness of the benefits of vocational training as well as on the involvement of the social partners in the design and delivery of vocational guidance and training programmes. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information, including disaggregated statistical data, on the use of vocational guidance tests and the contribution of such tests to ensuring access to vocational guidance without discrimination. Noting the Government’s reference to vocational guidance tests for boys and adults, the Committee invites the Government to provide information on the manner in which it provides vocational guidance for girls. The Committee also invites the Government to provide the Committee with more detailed information on available documentation for vocational guidance and to report to the Committee on the manner in which such information is kept up to date (Article 3(2) and (3)).

Youth employment and training. The Government reports that in the second quarter of 2018 the overall unemployment rate in Egypt was estimated at 11.3 per cent. The Committee notes that this figure represents a slight drop in the unemployment rate which, according to available ILOSTAT data, stood at 11.7 per cent in 2017. It notes, however, that the youth unemployment rate in 2017 was 29.6 per cent – more than twice as high. In its previous comments, the Committee invited the Government to provide information on the results achieved with regard to vocational training and guidance for young persons with few or no qualifications and those living in rural areas. The Government indicates that rural regions that are located far away from the existing training centres are served by 13 mobile training units. The Committee notes that, according to the European Training Foundation country report for Egypt, 2019, two out of three young women residing in rural areas (69.4 per cent) are not in employment, education or training, compared with one out of ten young men residing in rural areas (10.5 per cent). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the results achieved with regard to vocational training and guidance in the context of youth employment and reiterates its request that the Government provide information on results achieved in rural areas. The Committee further invites the Government to provide information on the nature and extent of vocational guidance and training available for young women residing in rural areas to address high rates of unemployment and limited access to training. Furthermore, the Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information disaggregated by age and sex on the youth unemployment rates in Egypt and the impact of the implemented projects thereon.

Women in employment and training. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government reports that active measures taken to ensure the participation of women in the labour market include providing vocational training tailored to the needs of the labour market, carrying out economic empowerment projects and providing cultural workshops to women in rural areas. The Committee notes that, according to ILOSTAT data for 2017, unemployment rates for women are almost three times that of men (23 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively), while unemployment rates for young women are also significantly higher than those for young men (38.3 per cent and 25.7 per cent, respectively). The Committee notes that the types of vocational training provided for women reflect, in large part, traditionally female occupations, such as sewing, knitting, carpet making and arabesque work. In this regard, the Committee notes the 2010 observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW/C/EGY/CO/7), in which it expressed concern regarding gender segregation in students’ choice of studies. The Government reports that, in collaboration with the ILO and the UN Fund for Equality between the Sexes, the Ministry of Manpower has established a unit aimed at improving the situation of women in the labour market. The Committee welcomes the Government’s report on the implementation of the El Saleheya project in order to alleviate unemployment in the El Sharqeya governorate. The Committee requests that the Government provide updated detailed information, including statistical data disaggregated by sex, age and region, on the number of beneficiaries of vocational guidance and training programmes, the type of vocational training provided, and the impact of such training on women’s access to stable employment. It further requests the Government to provide detailed information on the results of the projects implemented with the assistance of the ILO to support women’s employment, as well as to provide information on the work of the unit set up by the Ministry of Manpower and its impact on the promotion of gender equality in employment and occupation. Additionally, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on trends in women’s employment, including rates of employment, unemployment and visible underemployment. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to ensure equal access of girls and women to vocational guidance and training relevant to all economic sectors and all levels of responsibility, and the impact of such measures on women’s participation in training to enable them to engage in the broadest possible range of economic activities, including in non-traditional occupations. It also requests the Government to provide detailed information on economic empowerment projects and employment support provided to women in rural areas.

Article 5. Cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Government provides information on measures illustrating ongoing collaboration with the social partners on matters related to vocational guidance and training. For instance, the Government indicates that it collaborates with civil society organizations and specialized councils in the formulation and implementation of work strategies and plans and the conclusion of agreements with private sector institutions to activate development and training programmes. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide information on the manner or extent to which the social partners are engaged in formulating the national strategy for vocational education and training. The Committee invites the Government to continue to report on its cooperation with the social partners in relation to the matters covered by the Convention. Furthermore, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the involvement of the social partners in elaborating the national strategy for vocational education and training.