By Pablo de Aguinaco
Cairo (EFE).- The death of 18 teenage female farmworkers in a traffic accident in northern Egypt has highlighted unsafe, exploitative conditions in a sector supplying much of Europe’s produce.
The crash occurred on Jun. 27 in Menoufiya province when a poorly maintained minibus overturned on its way to a vineyard, killing the driver and all 18 passengers.
“These girls worked 12-hour days for just 130 Egyptian pounds (around 2.68 dollars), without contracts, rest breaks, or any protection,” said Rahma Arafat, a labor lawyer at the Center for Trade Union and Workers’ Services (CTUWS). “One victim was only 13. Others were between 15 and 18 years old.”
Much of the produce harvested by these young women, grapes, oranges, onions, and strawberries, is destined for European markets.
While the European Union certifies food supply chains under standards such as the International Featured Standards (IFS), labor rights groups argue that oversight rarely extends to conditions in the fields.
“The reality is that poor women and girls work from dawn without access to bathrooms, drinking water, or safe transport,” Arafat told EFE.
Although Egyptian law bans child labor under 15, it allows those aged 15 to 18 to work under certain conditions.
“The problem is not the law itself, but the lack of enforcement,” Arafat said. “Especially for those without contracts.”
According to a 2023 World Bank report, informal workers account for 62.5% of Egypt’s labor force, and over 90% of Egyptian youth work without formal contracts.
Government response and compensation
Following the tragedy, the CTUWS accused Egypt’s ministries of Labor and Transport of “negligence” in a letter to Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, alleging they had “completely ignored” the unsafe conditions in which workers are transported to farms.
“These girls are recruited through middlemen, who charge abusive commissions and arrange transportation in overcrowded minibuses with total disregard for human life,” explained rural anthropologist Saker El Nour.
The Ministry of Labor pledged 200,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately 4,200 dollars) in compensation to the victims’ families.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also ordered an additional 100,000 pounds (approximately 2,100 dollars) per family and called for improved road maintenance and enforcement of speed limits.
However, the government made no mention of labor conditions. Local media referred to the deceased as “martyrs of their livelihood.”
New labor law fails to address core issues
On Sep. 1, Egypt enacted a new labor law, but unions argue it fails to address critical concerns: temporary contracts, low wages, and restrictions on unionizing and striking.
Since 2017, independent unions have been permitted but only with government approval, a process that can take years and often ends in rejection.
As a result, most strikes not backed by the state remain technically illegal.
“It’s useless to say strikes are illegal,” said veteran labor activist Arafat. “When negotiations fail, workers will strike anyway. Changing the law’s text alone is insufficient: if workers cannot organize and secure enforcement of their rights, workplace conditions will not improve.” EFE
pab/seo/mcd
