A group of daily wage workers at the Egyptian Company for Wholesale Trade, a subsidiary of the Egyptian Ministry of Supply’s Holding Company for Food Industries, have issued a distress call highlighting the difficult working conditions they face, including low wages, delayed payments, and complete absence of legal guarantees, despite many having worked at the company for more than six years.
The workers stated that they receive a daily wage not exceeding 132 Egyptian pounds, without weekly rest days or official holidays, noting that sick leaves are deducted from their salaries. They added that they are often forced to work extended hours without any additional compensation.
These workers are engaged in the distribution and supply of subsidized rations and free goods through several branches of the company across various governorates, carrying out tasks such as managing sales points, data entry, and custody of assets—roles they describe as permanent rather than temporary, similar to those performed by regular employees who hold fixed-term or indefinite contracts.
One worker explained that they joined the company through a competition advertised with a promise of “future contracting for those who remain consistent in their work,” but this promise has never been fulfilled, despite their years of service ranging between two and six years.
Another worker indicated that objecting to the current conditions could lead to dismissal or arbitrary transfer, adding that the company does not even conduct investigations before terminating a worker’s contract—a clear violation of their legal and human rights, according to the workers.
The workers confirmed that they have submitted multiple complaints to the Holding Company for Food Industries, the Ministry of Supply, and the Prime Minister’s Office, demanding regularization of their status and improvement of their working conditions, but received no response from the concerned authorities.
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) expresses full solidarity with the daily wage workers at the Egyptian Company for Wholesale Trade and voices deep concern over the repeated violations they face. The committee calls on the relevant authorities to end the exploitation these workers endure and urgently take steps to ensure a safe and fair working environment, including the provision of legal protections, halting arbitrary dismissals, timely payment of wages, and launching an independent investigation into the complaints filed by the workers.
The CFJ further affirms that the right to decent work is a constitutional and human right that must not be compromised, and that the continued deprivation of basic rights from this vulnerable group constitutes a serious violation that requires urgent intervention by oversight and executive bodies to protect labor rights and ensure compliance with international labor standards.
