Press release
Geneva – February 11, 2024
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) condemns the reported violations against workers at the “Universal” factory for home appliances affiliated with “Universal” Engineering Industries, as they resumed their strike on February 4, 2024. The workers’ protest was triggered by the initiation of ownership transfer procedures to the Italian company “Ariston Thermo,” with the management refusing to settle their financial dues and pressuring them to submit resignations.
According to CFJ’s monitoring team, the factory’s owner sold the facility to Ariston for an estimated 2 billion pounds. Workers were then coerced into submitting resignations to facilitate the creation of new contracts with the Italian company. The workers, citing the Egyptian Labor Law, demanded two months compensation for each year of service before agreeing to resign. However, the company’s managing director rejected their legitimate demands and insisted on their resignations.
Over the past few years, factory workers have endured serious violations by the management concerning the payment of their financial dues, resulting in a staggering delay of nearly 50 months. This dire situation has even led to a tragic suicide and three attempted suicides, narrowly averted by their vigilant colleagues.
CFJ categorically rejects the actions taken by the Universal Home Appliances Factory’s management and calls for an immediate halt to violations against workers. The committee demands the prompt payment of overdue financial dues and emphasizes adherence to the compensation stipulations outlined in the Egyptian Labor Law in cases of dismissal.
Additionally, CFJ urges the Egyptian authorities, specifically the Ministry of Labor, to intervene decisively to address the escalating issues Universal factory workers face. The committee calls for an end to the denial of workers’ rights, advocating for a legal intervention to rectify the situation and ensure justice for the affected employees.
