| Abstrakt: |
The bulk of child labor in Egypt is employed in agriculture. According to the 1960 census, 90 percent of all employed young persons were working in agriculture, 7 percent were employed in the services, and only 4 percent were in industry. The demand for young people to work in agriculture is highly seasonal especially for certain tasks where agility is required. The majority of young people working in the service sector are employed in personal services, where young girls are very much preferred as house servants. A large part of those who work in industry are in family craft enterprises where they are learning the family trade. The extent of child participation in economic activities differs also between rural and urban localities. The extent of child participation in economic activities differs also between rural and urban localities. The table shown in the article clearly reflects that child labor in rural areas is much higher than in urban areas. However, in urban areas, child labor seems to be more prevalent in the largest urban centers. In 1960, 37 percent of the 6-19-year-olds were employed in the large cities as compared to only 18 percent in towns. In the major metropolitan areas, more opportunities for work exist in the services and crafts industry than in small cities and towns. This fact may account for the slight rise since 1957 of the proportion of youth employed in the largest cities. In the relatively more conservative social climate characteristic of upper Egypt, girls are expected to participate less than boys in work activities. Moreover, the extent of their participation in economic activities is not fully reported because of traditional bans against acknowledging their economic contribution. |
