Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Egypt (Ratification: 1955)

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. Use of conscripts for non-military purposes. For a number of years, the Committee has been referring to section 1 of Act No. 76 of 1973, as amended by Act No. 98 of 1975, concerning general (civic) service, according to which young persons (male and female) who have completed their studies, and who are surplus to the requirements of the armed forces, may be directed to work such as the development of rural and urban societies, agricultural and consumers’ cooperative associations, and work in production units of factories. The Committee considered that these provisions were incompatible both with the present Convention and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), which provides for the abolition of any form of compulsory labour as a means of mobilizing and using labour for purposes of economic development. In this regard, the Government previously indicated that a proposal had been submitted to the Committee on Law Revision at the Ministry of Social Solidarity to amend the Act on general (civic) service so as to provide for the voluntary nature of the service.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that, the draft amendments to Act No. 76 of 1973 were prepared and are under examination by the legislative committee within the Ministry of Labour in order to be submitted without delay to the Parliament. The Government also states that no sanctions have been imposed on reluctant young persons (male and female) who refuse to participate in the general (civic) service. The Committee recalls that, as regards national service obligations imposed outside emergency situations, only compulsory military service is excluded from the scope of the Convention, subject to the condition that it is used “for work of a purely military character” (Article 2(2)(a)), this condition being aimed specifically at preventing the call-up of conscripts for public works or development purposes (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 288). The Committee strongly encourages the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that Act No. 76 of 1973 is amended so that the participation of young persons in the general (civic) service is voluntary, in accordance with both Conventions Nos 29 and 105. Pending the revision, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the application of the above legislation in practice, including information on the number of persons who have applied for exemption from such service, the number of those whose applications have been refused and any sanctions imposed in this connection.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.