The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the arrest of 16 workers from the Sohag and Qena branches of Modern Gas, a natural gas company, by National Security forces following week-long protests demanding direct employment instead of working under subcontracting agreements.
According to CFJ, workers reported that security forces carried out home raids in Sohag, resulting in the arrest of seven workers, while nine others were detained simultaneously in Qena.
This crackdown came after Sohag workers launched a strike in response to protests organized by their colleagues in Qena, who complained about monthly deductions from their wages by the subcontracting company.
Workers explained that their contracts with the Arab Institution for Supplies have been renewed annually for years, despite their actual work being inside Modern Gas, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Petroleum. They also reported deductions of up to EGP 1,300 per month, demanding to be integrated into Modern Gas’s official workforce like other employees.
On December 3, all workers in Sohag and Qena were released after the Public Prosecution ordered their release on bail of EGP 5,000 each, pending charges of sabotage and disruption of work. Workers confirmed that they ended their protests following an agreement with the company’s management to secure the release of their detained colleagues.
CFJ expressed full solidarity with Modern Gas workers in Sohag and Qena, stressing the importance of addressing their demands without intimidation and ensuring their legitimate rights, particularly those related to direct employment. The committee reaffirmed the need to protect workers’ rights, uphold their dignity, and guarantee freedom of association.