Why I would hire a child for labor.

For most of my adult life, like most people, I felt that child labor was wrong and as a society we should boycott any company that utilizes child labor.  Growing up in the United States most people live a fairly comfortable life.  For those individuals who are lower income, the government provides them with financial support.  Children from lower income families can still go to school and even go on to college-many of which are supported by the government.  You don't see many children starving to death or begging in the street. Growing up in America, children have it easy.

Moving to Egypt opened up my eyes to the problems developing countries face.  In 2014, it was estimated that about nine percent or about 1.6 million children between the ages of 5-17 were involved in child labor.  With the current economic crisis, it is estimated that number has doubled in recent years.

Children in Egypt work in many labor sectors but mostly in agriculture and craftsmanship work such as auto repair.  Children as young as five work in cotton fields in the south and the fruit orchards in the north.  They do not attend school.  They are paid for their services, from seven to fifteen pounds a day (about $1-$2).

Of course, this is not the ideal lifestyle for a child.  Growing up in the West this was initially difficult for me to understand and very devastating to see.  As time went on I became more aware and understanding of the circumstances that often surround these children laborers.

Many of these children come from penniless families.  Families who's fathers have died or maybe sent to prison. Children who run away from parental abuse.  Bastard children who were abandoned by their parents and society try to ignore. Children from families who can not feed their children even working 20 hours a day.  Children with little to no chance at life.

Unlike the United States, Egypt does not have government-supported social services programs for poor and needy families because, well, over 72% of the population in Egypt are living in extreme poverty.  The economy is in a severe recession, and there are very few jobs.  Most employment, even cashier jobs, require a bachelor's degree.  If a single mother with no work experiences were to try and find work, she would most likely end up selling goods on the street for only a few pounds a day- if she could find a job at all.  This would not feed her family, this would not pay bills, this would not pay for her children's education.  There are no food stamps or welfare.  No one is going to help her.

These children who are involved in the labor market already have a low chance of going to school.  Even primary school costs enough that many of the poor in Egypt can not afford to send their children. Those children without a father to support them have virtually no chance of an education. While Egypt boasts about it's 'free' college tuition, it is not free.  One semester of the lowest levels of college will cost a family about 700 pounds in tuition and another 1000 pounds in books and fees.  When a family can barely feed themselves, often unfortunately, education loses priority.

While no child deserves to be robbed of his or her childhood, sometimes it is their only chance to survive, their only chance to live, and their only chance to have a future is to work.

A boy or girl sent to work in the fields will not enjoy their lives; I can admit that.  But the farmer will provide them with food, clothing, shelter, and medical care along with a small wage each day.  These children are not only being cared for, but they are learning a skill that will better them in the future. No, it is not a formal education, but it is a skill that will ensure them a future career and a chance to raise a family of their own.

Boys who go on to work as craftsmen, either in mechanic's shops or possibly in a furniture shop will learn a skill as well. I live in an area now that is just south of the craftsmen shops in Port Fouad. There are many boys working here, several under the age of ten years old.  They are fed, given a place to sleep, given clothing, and they are taught a skill.  For many of these boys, this employment is their only chance at life.

If you were to stop abruptly all child labor in Egypt what would that mean for these children?  Would they get a new pair of shoes?  A free education?  Free food and clean water to drink?  Would they get a nice home and a soft, warm bed? Would they go on to be doctors or lawyers?   No.  More likely the would get killed, starve to death, or find a job elsewhere.  But even more, likely they would go on to be criminals, stealing and selling drugs to feed themselves and their families, possibly ending up in prison before they even turn 18 years old.

Do I support child labor? Of course not, but the solution isn't as easy as just boycotting a particular company or making a law against child labor.  The system has to be improved as a whole, to help parents to provide for themselves and their children.  The system has to be improved to help children who have nowhere to go.  There is a lot of work to be done in the social services sector before child labor can stop.  Without it, these children have no chance.

So as it stands right now, if I owned a small business in Egypt, I would hire a child to work for me.  I would, of course, educate them, feed them, and care for their needs.  But maybe that employment is the only way that child will survive.  Maybe by hiring a child I am giving them a chance to live a somewhat normal life someday.