Unskilled Temporary Labour Migration from Upper Egypt to Cairo
Author(s): A. Zohry
This paper looks at the characteristics of labourers who migrate from rural to urban areas in Egypt and what strategies rural young men and women pursue when they are faced with limited economic opportunities. The migratory phenomenon in this study is examined within a set of wider macro-issues, such as the uneven nature of Egyptian development and urbanisation, the hyper-growth of Cairo and the nature of Egyptian employment trends. The study is based on questionnaires and interview surveys of rural-urban migrant workers in Cairo in order to find out more about their age, education, origin, occupation and families. The results of the empirical study show that about two-thirds of the interviewed migrants are between 14 and 29 years old and 45.9 percent have no education. Furthermore, most migrants are accommodated and employed through informal social networks, such as friends and relatives in Cairo. Turning to geographical migration patterns, the research reveals that the majority of migrant labourers in Cairo are eager to find a job opportunity in richer Arab countries. However, this intention to emigrate abroad is tempered by the reality of practical and financial difficulties. The main conclusion of this paper is that rural development is the one policy area that needs to be improved in order to contribute to the reduction of the potential flow of rural labour to urban cities. On the other hand, more information for labourers is needed with respect to job opportunities, living conditions and services available for rural migrants in Cairo.