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Laborers Protests - A yell in the face of Government

This report, the 14th in series of Economic and Social Rights, monitors the situation of laborers and their protest movements during the last seven months of 1999. Undoubtedly, the time of the report's publication is seen for many observers as a bleak period. Since the enforcement of the emergency law was extended, the freedom of scores of laborers and rights activists have been under strain; and arrests among pressmen have become more common. 

However, the worst is that the nation's wealth continued to be smuggled at the hands of who called themselves investors while the government insists to head for the coming elections without introducing real amendments to the election laws. It is hoped that, with such amendments introduced, the minimum level of fairness would be guaranteed in these elections. Perhaps the only right event that coincided with the issuing of this report is the celebrations of the Laborers' Day.

Handling the issue of labor protests during this period, the report says, " through the last seven months of year 1999, laborers of both public and private sectors staged 92 protests.  This number exceeds the reported number of protests during first half of 1999 by 20 protests.

"The number of labor protests during the entire year of 1999 was more by 60 protests than those reported during 1998, which witnessed only 104 protests."    

- The report then reviews the conditions of workers in the country's three main sectors: public sector, public enterprise and the private sector.

It explains that the government, through using various means to reduce the number of workers, has managed to demote the jobs of 2,300,000 laborers over the past five years. All of them have been turned to temporary workers in a step taken in the preparation for their dismissal.

In addition, 300,000 part-time laborers were dismissed in 330 holding companies.

Privatization has also taken its toll on many laborers in the public sector. The report shows that one million laborers have lost their jobs and are not working any more. 

The report also indicates that some investors who bought insolvent companies have dismissed their staff. 

The report data indicates that 300 laborers dismissed from their works at Alexandria shipyard; 600 laborers from Beni Swif Cement Factory; 500 laborers from East Delta Co; 1500 laborers from Egtho Co; and 700 laborers from Hilopolise Co.

However, some other companies have totally liquidated and their entire staffs were dismissed. Such action has been noted in cases like that of El-Nil for agricultural Crops Co where where the entire company's staff of 910 employees was dismissed. Other similar cases of staff dismissal was in Cotton Trading Co (7150 laborers); El-Barbary Investment Co (700 laborers); south Tahrer Agriculture Co (1500 laborers) ,Synthetic Wood Co (500 laborers) and finally SETCA for Rubber Co (700 laborers).

This was accompanied by a series of protests in many of the public enterprises sector companies. These protests amounted to 28 and they were  in most of the cases due to delay in paying bonus.

The report gives some examples on these protests mentioning that of El-Delta for steel works Co, Kafr El-Zayyatt for fertilisers Co, Coca Cola, Cairo for dying and preparation Co and finally the strike of laborers of Misr for Pharmaceutical Preparations.

Moreover, not only the public enterprises laborers conditions that deteriorated but also those of the  government employees.  At level of their income, it noted to be not enough to meet the high cost of their living.  Even when compared their salaries with that of their beers at other work sectors they are very low.  Statistics established in this regard revealed that there was no noticeable improvement in living condition of the government employees. That happens despite the fact the budget allocated to meet their payments reached LE 3,25 billion a year.  (The average monthly salary for a labour or an employee is about 4650 pounds a month.)

The report says also that some categories of these government employees receive very low salaries that hardly excess 91 pound a month. Such categories include cleaning laborers and joiner employees. 

The report in this area demonstrates some of the protests staged by government employees during these last seven  months of 1999.

It says, these protests reached in number to 40 protests. They were mailly l related to wages and incentives. For instance, in November 1999, the laborers of Railways in Tanta went in strike to protest the delay in paying them their annual incentives. Teachers in many parts of the country have also protested the delay in paying them the 35% increase in salaries.  The Prime Minister approved this allowance. The first of such protest was at  Port Said,  Dahaliya and Assuit during last  September .

Arbitrary dismissal of laborers was also the reason behind many of protests staged by government employees during this period.  Such action has taken place at El-Behariya province last July. A large number of schoolteachers there went in strike to protest a decision transferring them away from their residence areas.  Similar strike also staged by schoolteachers last July in Assuit province.  Not only teachers who involved in such protests but also medical officers at Assuit Province.  That happened when a number of these doctors were ordered to work at very remote areas, where there was no any facilities to help them do their work properly.

Workers of the taxation department throughout the country have also protested against depriving them from their rights to incentives and promotions.

The report  also  handles  the situation of private sector' workers in many of the industrial areas.  It says  that  many  of their protests were  related issues of  appointment,  wages  and Arbitrary dismissal.

For instance, the report says, last October a set-in staged by laborers of the Korean DESLIM Co.  This move was taken by laborers in protest against the management intention to replace local staff by Korean workers.  The protest to come to a halt after a decision was taken to suspend this move by management.   In November, the laborers of El-Wadi Cotton Co refused to cash their monthly salaries because of the delay in paying them their incentives.  In addition, 250 laborers in SCANA Gabbour Co have staged a sit-in after their management reduced their salaries and incentives to force them to resign.

Similar protests have also taken place at other private sector installations in 10 Ramadan City. The workers of an Electricity Lamps Factory there went in hanger strike after its has owner suddenly decided to fire them and change his business.  The same action has also taken by employees of RAFIEA Co and MECAY LAND Co. The management of the later to force its employees give up their works has stopped paying them their salaries for almost three months. 

Finally, the report, after this brief demonstration of current situations and protests of laborers, highlights some points regarding the rules of the proposed Labour Law.

In this regard the report says that the proposed law has offered businessmen limitless powers and privileges. That at the time it has deprived laborers from instruments necessary for protecting their gains and rights.

Though the conditions of work at the private sector are not like those of the public sector, the proposed law treats equally the workers of both sectors regarding many of the rights.

The report therefore concludes saying if this Law implemented more of conflicts would occur between laborers and their works owners in the future.

Furthermore, the proposed law has an article that abolishing the paid leaves for workers. It also has a clause limits the number of labour leaves for career women by three times throughout their career life.

According to this law also, some government employees prohibited from taking part in any form of protesting acts.  Strangely enough we do not know how could such citizens express their rights or claim their rights; the proposed law itself says nothing about that.

Needless to say that the proposed  law also gives the owner of work the right to dismiss any of his laborers whenever he wants and at any time he wants. That because the law abolished the work of the tripartite committee which was questioning the labor before issuing a dismissal order against him.

Finally, LCHR believes that there were many contradicting decisions which intern led to many of labors protests during this period.

Therefore, the Center asserts the importance of taking the opinions of these people whenever there are a plan for a new regulation that would affect their work and life.    In other ward,  the participation of these  sectors  in making  any  regulation  affecting their  work and life is very important.

The Center therefore calls on nation’s lawmakers to take these points in consideration whenever they want to deal with labors and employees situations. They are also requested to consider the recommendations come in many similar studies.  In doing so they have also to consider the rights of labors highlighted in Egyptian Constitution

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