ILO official: Egyptian unemployment spiked post-revolution

By ASHRAF AZOOZ - Translated by BISHOY RAMZY REYAD

The social unrest and increasing strikes in Egypt since the January 25 Revolution have affected Egypt’s economic activities and brought the unemployment level to 12 percent, said Cleopatra Henry, an official in the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The Egyptian government must increase investments from 16 percent to 23 percent of its GDP and attract foreign investments, Henry demanded at a seminar about international labor standards on Tuesday.

The next parliament should develop the Ministry of Manpower as a cornerstone for providing required information about the labor market, she said, adding that it would serve as the authority for the state.

Despite the challenges Egypt is facing after its revolution, the ILO expects that the government can respond to the demands raised by the Egyptian people during the popular uprising, she said, citing social justice, fair distribution of wealth, dialogue between different institutions and equality amongst all Egyptians.

The main problem facing Egypt is the lack of participation of youth and women in the labor market, Henry said, adding that children are still strongly involved, a violation of several international agreements.

“Egypt signed the triple treaty No. 144, which includes three articles,” Henry said.

“Egypt ignored the most important article in the treaty stipulating that the government draft a labor strategy ensuring the implementation of the main principles of the treaty.”

“Egypt’s public sector has a large amount of labor, but it cannot meet its commitments to those laborers,” she added.

She also underlined the necessity of drafting a training policy to maintain and enhance cooperation between the different authorities of the state.