CAIRO: The Egyptian Ministry of Manpower and Immigration revealed that around 246,226 Egyptians applied to immigrate to 14 Arab and foreign countries for the purpose of work. The ministry confirmed in a report that Italy topped the list of foreign countries that received applications by Egyptians wishing to immigrate, followed by the United States, England and France, then Canada and Germany, while the UAE topped the list of Arab states receiving applications by Egyptian youth, followed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, respectively. Aisha Abdel Hady, Minister of Manpower and Immigration, said in a press release that the bodies of the ministry registered all applications in the database of the Ministry, “and were classified according to age, qualifications, experience and professions and crafts that they want to work.” She said that the ministry is currently presenting applications and statements of those applicants “to Arabs and foreign business owners who are looking for Egyptian workers, and nominate young people to fill the jobs available from time to time,” adding that the employment bureaus of workers affiliated to the ministry abroad are “currently working on inventory of the needs of labor markets, to be presented to young people registered in the database of the ministry.” It comes as the economic situation in Egypt continues to spiral downward for many in the middle and lower classes. Egyptian economists have pointed to the fact that well paying wages are difficult to find and this has seen an upsurge in the applications of the younger generation to leave. Baher Yussif, a Sudanese economist at the Arab League, says that it is “not suprising that we see a lot of young people wanting to leave the region.” He told Bikya Masr that “in the past few years, the stagnation of economies in terms of real growth of the middle and lower classes continues and this means they have to look for work outside the region. It makes sense.” He added that in order for the Arab world to avoid this brain drain, “governments have to put into affect policies that will enable well paying wages and solid foundations for careers. We don't really have that right now.” Abdel Hady noted that the ministry is seeking to develop programs and mechanisms for system migration to achieve the highest degree of coordination and integration with the receiving countries of the Egyptian labor, “thus contributing to the provision of care and protection for them.” BM
