Will ‘marriage loans’ boost Egyptian nuptials?
Hani Sameer, Al-Monitor, March 6, 2018
Large
numbers of Egyptians are unmarried, with many blaming a lack of money, so
legislation has been proposed for a loan fund to help young people finance
first marriages.
numbers of Egyptians are unmarried, with many blaming a lack of money, so
legislation has been proposed for a loan fund to help young people finance
first marriages.
 |
|
| GETTY/Chris McGrath. A bride dances during a traditional Egyptian wedding party on Dec. 18, 2016, in Cairo, Egypt. |
CAIRO —
Before the current session of parliament wraps up in August, Egyptian
legislators have the opportunity to make life a little easier for their young
fellow citizens who would like to marry and start a family but find doing so
economically prohibitive. The parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee on Feb.
11 approved a
bill drafted by Atta Salim to establish a government-administered
fund to provide loans
so young couples can afford to marry.
Before the current session of parliament wraps up in August, Egyptian
legislators have the opportunity to make life a little easier for their young
fellow citizens who would like to marry and start a family but find doing so
economically prohibitive. The parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee on Feb.
11 approved a
bill drafted by Atta Salim to establish a government-administered
fund to provide loans
so young couples can afford to marry.
Karam
Sabri, 30, a construction worker, told Al-Monitor that his daily wage does not
exceed 150 Egyptian pounds ($8.50) and that such a small salary is insufficient
to cover the costs involved in getting married. He blames the high cost of
living for making his dream of marriage impossible. Sabri supports a marriage
fund, in the hope that he can obtain a loan to get an apartment in one of
Cairo’s suburbs.
Sabri, 30, a construction worker, told Al-Monitor that his daily wage does not
exceed 150 Egyptian pounds ($8.50) and that such a small salary is insufficient
to cover the costs involved in getting married. He blames the high cost of
living for making his dream of marriage impossible. Sabri supports a marriage
fund, in the hope that he can obtain a loan to get an apartment in one of
Cairo’s suburbs.
To get
married, Egyptian men must provide a dowry to the bride’s family, a wedding
gift of jewelry for his wife and a place to live, in addition to paying part of
the bill for furniture. Dowries range from 10,000 to 50,000 pounds
($570-$2,800) depending on the couple’s social class.
married, Egyptian men must provide a dowry to the bride’s family, a wedding
gift of jewelry for his wife and a place to live, in addition to paying part of
the bill for furniture. Dowries range from 10,000 to 50,000 pounds
($570-$2,800) depending on the couple’s social class.
According
to the results of the 2017 general
census, published by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and
Statistics (CAPMAS), 13.6 million Egyptians 18 years and older have never been
married. The gender breakdown is 8.9 million males and 4.7 million females.
to the results of the 2017 general
census, published by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and
Statistics (CAPMAS), 13.6 million Egyptians 18 years and older have never been
married. The gender breakdown is 8.9 million males and 4.7 million females.
“The
draft law includes 13 articles aimed at facilitating marriages in Egypt. It
offers an immediate solution through legislation to the high prevalence of
Egyptian men and women’s reluctance toward marriage,” Salim told Al-Monitor.
“In light of worsening [economic] conditions, the government should help
Egyptian youths with a loan extended under the terms of this draft law.” The
fund would offer favorable loans of not more than 60,000 pounds ($3,400),
repayable in monthly installments of 400 pounds ($23).
draft law includes 13 articles aimed at facilitating marriages in Egypt. It
offers an immediate solution through legislation to the high prevalence of
Egyptian men and women’s reluctance toward marriage,” Salim told Al-Monitor.
“In light of worsening [economic] conditions, the government should help
Egyptian youths with a loan extended under the terms of this draft law.” The
fund would offer favorable loans of not more than 60,000 pounds ($3,400),
repayable in monthly installments of 400 pounds ($23).
Salim
stressed that the high number of unmarried people, especially women aged 40 and
above — whom CAPMAS estimates to number around 800,000 — requires solidarity.
“We do not want unmarried Egyptian women to miss out on the opportunity to
exercise their right to motherhood,” he said. “The phenomenon of late marriage
is one of the social problems, like the spread of sexual harassment, that must
be resolved immediately.”
stressed that the high number of unmarried people, especially women aged 40 and
above — whom CAPMAS estimates to number around 800,000 — requires solidarity.
“We do not want unmarried Egyptian women to miss out on the opportunity to
exercise their right to motherhood,” he said. “The phenomenon of late marriage
is one of the social problems, like the spread of sexual harassment, that must
be resolved immediately.”
Shaimaa
Tariq, 35, a government employee, told Al-Monitor that the older she gets, the
less her chance of getting married and having children. “Men prefer to marry
younger women, under the age of 30, to improve their chances of having kids,”
she said.
Tariq, 35, a government employee, told Al-Monitor that the older she gets, the
less her chance of getting married and having children. “Men prefer to marry
younger women, under the age of 30, to improve their chances of having kids,”
she said.
As for
actually obtaining a loan under his legislation, Salim explained that
applicants must be male, at least 19 years of age and never have been married,
or if married, only once, that being at the time of application. Those already
married and seeking a loan to improve his family’s living situation must submit
an authenticated marriage contract entered into within the past six years.
Widowers, divorced men and men with an outstanding bank loan are ineligible.
Older men and lower-income wage earners are supposed to be given priority in
obtaining loans, but no guidelines have been set.
actually obtaining a loan under his legislation, Salim explained that
applicants must be male, at least 19 years of age and never have been married,
or if married, only once, that being at the time of application. Those already
married and seeking a loan to improve his family’s living situation must submit
an authenticated marriage contract entered into within the past six years.
Widowers, divorced men and men with an outstanding bank loan are ineligible.
Older men and lower-income wage earners are supposed to be given priority in
obtaining loans, but no guidelines have been set.
Salim
said that if a couple divorces after getting a loan, then the outstanding
balance would become due within six months, but in the event of the borrower’s
death or total disability, the applicant would be exempted from repayment.
said that if a couple divorces after getting a loan, then the outstanding
balance would become due within six months, but in the event of the borrower’s
death or total disability, the applicant would be exempted from repayment.
In
statements to Youm7
on Feb. 15, Samir Batikh, the undersecretary of the Youth and Sports Committee,
said he considers 23 to be the appropriate minimum age for obtaining a loan. He
further requested a grace period of up to two years before a borrower begins
repaying through installments, which should be set no higher than 400 Egyptian
pounds ($23) per month.
statements to Youm7
on Feb. 15, Samir Batikh, the undersecretary of the Youth and Sports Committee,
said he considers 23 to be the appropriate minimum age for obtaining a loan. He
further requested a grace period of up to two years before a borrower begins
repaying through installments, which should be set no higher than 400 Egyptian
pounds ($23) per month.
Meanwhile,
Abdel Hadi al-Kasabi, the head of the parliament’s Social Solidarity Committee,
said, “Empowering young people to work and increase productivity is better than
giving them a marriage loan. Offering young people a loan instead of training
them and improving their qualifications could lead them to prison.”
Abdel Hadi al-Kasabi, the head of the parliament’s Social Solidarity Committee,
said, “Empowering young people to work and increase productivity is better than
giving them a marriage loan. Offering young people a loan instead of training
them and improving their qualifications could lead them to prison.”
He told
Al-Monitor that many Egyptians had started married life with loans, but were
then unable to repay them and therefore ended up in jail. “These young
Egyptians were not offered the proper training and qualification to keep up
with the labor market,” Kasabi said. “I want young Egyptians to succeed in
their work before thinking about getting married and taking on debt to do so.”
Al-Monitor that many Egyptians had started married life with loans, but were
then unable to repay them and therefore ended up in jail. “These young
Egyptians were not offered the proper training and qualification to keep up
with the labor market,” Kasabi said. “I want young Egyptians to succeed in
their work before thinking about getting married and taking on debt to do so.”
To ease
concerns over the possibility of some borrowers not repaying the marriage loan,
Salim said that loan default insurance could be secured from Egyptian insurance
companies. He also remarked that the marriage fund would be administered out of
the president’s office, which will help ensure its financing and support.
concerns over the possibility of some borrowers not repaying the marriage loan,
Salim said that loan default insurance could be secured from Egyptian insurance
companies. He also remarked that the marriage fund would be administered out of
the president’s office, which will help ensure its financing and support.
Salim
noted, “Article 3
of the draft law obliges all ministries and state institutions to cooperate
with the marriage fund.” Each of them would allocate 5% of their budget from
unallocated funds, According to Salim, the state will determine the number of
loans per year, according to the fund’s budget.
noted, “Article 3
of the draft law obliges all ministries and state institutions to cooperate
with the marriage fund.” Each of them would allocate 5% of their budget from
unallocated funds, According to Salim, the state will determine the number of
loans per year, according to the fund’s budget.
Parliamentarian
Amina Nasir told Al-Monitor that high prices and bad economic conditions have
led many young people to refrain from getting married. She explained that the
marriage fund could offer a solution to the phenomenon of late marriage in
Egypt by offering financial support to them. She also asserted, however, that
the proposed law would be useless without also raising awareness among parents
— such as not demanding too much from a man in light of today’s economic
situation — and getting them to changing their traditional ideas about
marriage.
Amina Nasir told Al-Monitor that high prices and bad economic conditions have
led many young people to refrain from getting married. She explained that the
marriage fund could offer a solution to the phenomenon of late marriage in
Egypt by offering financial support to them. She also asserted, however, that
the proposed law would be useless without also raising awareness among parents
— such as not demanding too much from a man in light of today’s economic
situation — and getting them to changing their traditional ideas about
marriage.
