Press release
Geneva – February 27, 2024
Workers of the Oils and Detergents Company in Assiut have initiated an open strike, calling for enforcing the new minimum wage. The strike, announced on Monday, 26 February, demands a minimum monthly salary of 6,000 pounds for workers in the public business sector, aligning with the recently announced increase for government public sector employees.
President Sisi’s recent approval of a 2,000-pound hike for public sector workers in the sixth grade has triggered a series of strikes across Egypt. The raise elevates these workers’ monthly income from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) is monitoring the situation, expressing its belief that, given the current economic crisis in Egypt, applying the new minimum wage should be generalized across various government companies. This approach is crucial to address the inflation crisis gripping Egyptian society.
CFJ voiced its support for the striking workers at the Oils and Detergents Company in Assiut. The committee emphasized that the new Egyptian labor law and international statutes protect the right to strike. Additionally, CFJ urged the company’s management to engage positively with the workers’ demands and discouraged attempts to suppress the strike-through security measures.
