Egypt's new public service mandate has some women wanting more
The Egyptian government has just mandated that Egyptian youth perform a year's worth of public service, but some Egyptian women say the government's decision doesn't go far enough.
A recent decision by Egypt's Ministry of Social Solidarity mandating all youth to complete at least a year's worth of community service has caused a stir among Egyptians, with some even describing it as compulsory civil conscription for women.
The decision is the first to impact women in 2017, a year that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has labeled the "Year of Women." According to ministry officials, many companies will require a certificate of completion of public service upon hiring. The decision, which is based on the 1973 Public Service Act No. 76, will go into effect in February.
However, many university students rejected the decision due to its compulsory nature.
“I will be forced to spend a whole year doing unpaid work just to get a certificate at the end,” said Rasha Mohamed, a university student. “We were not keen on performing public service because the companies that we apply for don’t ask about it, but I think this decision will put more restrictions.”
