Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad has attended the iSchool Digital Future Forum in Cairo, where a joint project was announced between his ministry, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and iSchool.
The initiative aims to empower children through technology education and digital skills development.
Addressing the event, Raddad said it demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to partnerships between the government, international organisations, the private sector, and the civil society.
“Investing in people, from early childhood, is a national priority,” he said.
“Under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, we have been working to provide real opportunities for younger generations to acquire programming, artificial intelligence, and modern technology skills,” he said.
Raddad stressed that child protection remains a top priority, noting that Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 prohibits employment under the age of 15 and regulates training to ensure it does not affect education or development.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to implement a national plan to support children and their families, in cooperation with various partners, including the ILO.
For her part, Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity Margaret Sarofim said: “True empowerment goes beyond social protection to building capacities and opening pathways for a decent life”.
She noted that the initiative targets the most vulnerable children.
Addressing the event, Director of the ILO Office in Cairo Eric Oechslan, said that investing in children, especially those at risk, is key to protecting their rights and strengthening community resilience.
Co-founder and CEO of iSchool Mohamed Gawish said the project aims to redirect at-risk children from early labour to education and digital empowerment, supporting national efforts to eliminate child labour and promote sustainable development.
