A 1988 government survey of Egypt found that 1.4 million
children between the ages of 6 and 14 work in Egypt.1 Among
Egypt's export industries, there is evidence that child labor is
used in the production of a small amount of hand-knotted carpets
for export. The textile, perfume, and leather industries merit
further investigation. II. Child Labor in Export Industries
Carpet making is a traditional craft in Egypt and children,
almost exclusively female, typically learn the craft at home.
The children are trained at an early age by an older family
member. Some children also work in carpet factories such as
those found in a western suburb of Cairo, near the Pyramids.
These carpets are sold primarily to the tourist market and the
export market, including the United States. The United States
imported approximately $500,000 in hand knotted and hooked
carpets from Egypt in 1993, though this does not include carpets
purchased by American tourists. The manager of one factory
reported that he sells to American tourists