Egypt’s Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad said the media is a key partner in the labour system, stressing that its role goes beyond reporting news to raising awareness, correcting misconceptions, highlighting challenges and informing citizens of their rights and duties.
Raddad was addressing the “Media and Child Labour: From Coverage to Impact” forum, organised by the Labour Ministry in co-operation with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Alexandria from September 21 to 23, with the participation of journalists and media professionals interested in labour issues.
The forum addresses child labour, efforts to eliminate its various forms, media responsibility in covering child rights, and the changes in the media landscape brought by digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI).
Raddad said responsible media coverage can become a tool for positive change when based on accurate information, an understanding of legislation and awareness of the humanitarian and social dimensions of labour issues.
The minister stressed that protecting children from exploitation is a shared responsibility involving the state, families, civil society, employers and the media.
He added that protecting children begins with ensuring access to education, care and rehabilitation, while supporting families economically and providing safe and sustainable opportunities for younger generations.
The minister also highlighted the rapid growth of digital platforms and AI tools, saying these developments require renewed attention to professionalism, accuracy and credibility in an increasingly fast-moving media environment.
For his part, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, Eric Ochlan, said child labour is a complex global phenomenon that cannot be understood through statistics alone, as every figure represents a child, a family and specific circumstances.
He stressed that the media has an important responsibility to cover child labour accurately and responsibly while ensuring that children’s dignity, privacy and best interests remain at the heart of every story.
He said the forum would examine child labour from different perspectives, including national and international frameworks, challenges on the ground and ethical media coverage, with the aim of helping journalists turn complex issues into accurate, impactful and human-centred stories.
