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Promoting Decent and Productive Employment of Young People in Rural Areas: A Review of

Strategies and Programmes

West Nuberia Rural Development Programme - Egypt

Bassem S. MinaILO – IFAD National Consultant

April13th, 2012

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Structure of the presentation

• Key info about the project in Egypt

• Key findings of the study on the decent work

• Key recommendations of the study in relation to the four pillars of decent work

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In Egypt

West Nuberia Rural Development Programme (WNRDP)

• A 7 year initiative started on 2002 and undertaken by:

– The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR),

– International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),

– The Italian Government

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WNRDP – key facts

• Youth is not an explicit/ direct target group.

• Farmers& Agriculture entrepreneurs are the main target groups.

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Key Findings of the Study

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1. Employment creation and enterprise development

• Employment situation is unsatisfactory – “I spent a lot of money to educate my son and he is not

able to find a proper job”

• Job opportunities are seasonal & related to agriculture

• Majority of youth are not encouraged to work in agriculture– “We don’t make enough money, it is not a prestigious

work”

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1. Employment creation and enterprise development

• Majority of girls are not allowed to work out of the villages/ area– “I am only allowed to work inside my village & with my

family”

• Very few opportunities in other sectors in rural areas,

• Lack of appropriate financial services to start-up new business.

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Impact on decent work

Youth situation Same Better Worse• Current employment 81% 19% 0%

• Finding an employment in the job market

73% 25% 2%

• Professional skills 68% 30% 2%

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2. Working conditions and social protection

• Youth mentioned that working conditions are far from their satisfactions/ expectations

• lack of proper working conditions (Y, E & CL)

– Working opportunities are temporary and seasonal, – No social and/ or health insurance,– No contracts.

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2. Working conditions and social protection

• Entrepreneurs are not able to offer decent and sustainable jobs due to:– Lack of business’ income, – Business’ sustainability, – Business’ difficulties.

• Lack of awareness/ knowledge about working conditions (Y, E & CL)– “I contribute with money in major accidents and this

the best that I know and do in this issue”

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Impact on decent work

Youth situation Same Better Worse

• Wages 88% 8% 4%

• Working hours 90% 7% 3%

• Occupational safety & health and other working conditions

85% 14% 1%

• Existence of an mployment contract

90% 7.5% 2.5%

• Social security 93.5% 2.5% 4%

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3. Rights at work

• Youth work is temporary and on a daily basis –limited rights at work.

• Informal legal status of business leads to limited workers’ rights,

• Good salaries and regular payment are still rare • Very little awareness on workers’ rights and

entitlements at the level of:– Workers– Entrepreneurs

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Impact on decent work

Rights % Note

a. Pension 1.5%

b. Health insurance 1.5%

c. Unemployment insurance

1.5%

d. Leave 1.5%

e. None 94%

The one who answered YES to these rights was government officer

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4. Workers’ and employers’ organization and social dialogue• Lack of awareness and knowledge• Lack of exiting structure at community levels• Workers confirmed that they don’t have a

negotiating power with employers

• Social dialogue– No answers were received from the respondents on

this issue

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Impact on decent work

Workers’ membership No. %

Workers members of trade unions 1 2%

Workers are not members of trade unions

54 93%

Entrepreneurs’ membership No. %

Entrepreneurs members of employers organization

0 0%

Workers are not members of employers organizations

89 100%

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Key Recommendations of the Study

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1.Employment creation and enterprise development

• Employability– Understand existing gaps between HR situation to

business needs in rural areas (qualifications, youth readiness, area’s potentiality, etc.)

– Link education and training to local needs to overcome the gaps including entrepreneurship training & skills development

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1.Employment creation and enterprise development

• Enterprise development – Support micro and small entrepreneurs to formalize

their business– Reach out to existing and new businesses with

appropriate services to create and offer more jobs– Establish pilot clusters of complementary of small

business in the same rural area (Y, E & CL) – Introduce tailored financial & non-financial services

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• Integrate in early stages of education & vocational training issues as occupational safety & health and other working conditions

• Provide package of business support service that include means to improve working conditions

• Support the formalization of informal activities– “I need to work with registered workshop, this should

improve my working conditions”

2. Working condition and social protection

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• Awareness and educational campaigns

• Agree on basic criteria (Code of Ethics) for minimum rights in rural areas– “I would like to ensure that I get my fair daily wages

by the end of my work”

• Creation of a knowledge and practice sharing mechanisms in rural communities.

• Help employers improve their businesses’ management and performance.

3. Rights at work

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• Improve the efficiency of the CDAs and empower youth groups to be more active

• Support the establishment of workers’ organizations, and youth & business associations in rural areas

• Support initiatives to promote social dialogue

4. Workers and employers organization & social dialogue

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THANK YOU