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Article

27 Oct 2016

Author:
Adham Youssef, Daily News (Egypt)

Egypt: Tanta Linen Factory former workers demand to be rehired in accordance with 2011 court verdict

Tanta Linen Factory workers protest, demand to be rehired

Around 240 workers from the Tanta Linen Factory [Tanta Flax & Oil Co.] staged a protest in front of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (EFTU) demanding the government’s intervention to rehire them in the factory after they were forced into early retirement … They demanded that they should return to the factory, after a court verdict in 2011 ordered that the factory should return back to the public sector after it was privatised.

Saudi investor Abdullah Al-Kaheky bought the company in 2005 from the Egyptian government for a much lower price than the market value, the workers argue … In November 2015, exactly 243 workers were promised to return, but the agreement was not fulfilled. Although the company is still operating with 50% of its labour force, it faces several problems, including late salaries and a lack of financial stability. Last December, the current workers demanded salary increases to correspond with the average minimum wage across the country.

From 2004 until 2010, many privatisation deals have been hit with labour crises, with workers complaining of layoffs and the loss financial rights.