The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored a protest organized by journalists at Al‑Bawaba News on the steps of the Journalists’ Syndicate in central Cairo. The journalists staged the protest in response to the non‑payment of their November salaries, and the failure to apply the minimum wage, as well as an escalation of their nearly month‑long sit‑in at the newspaper’s headquarters to demand their financial and legal rights.
According to CFJ, the journalists affirmed that the delayed salaries and the administration’s refusal to comply with the minimum wage constitute a clear violation of their right to fair and regular remuneration, in contravention of the Egyptian Labor Law and state‑mandated wage regulations. They emphasized that their actions remain peaceful and lawful, and come only after exhausting all amicable avenues for resolution.
Participants chanted slogans calling for the enforcement of the law and accountability for the newspaper’s management, expressing their rejection of what they described as pressure tactics and disregard for workers’ rights. They also raised banners demanding the payment of overdue dues and the guarantee of minimum standards of social protection.
One journalist stated that they are no longer seeking additional benefits but rather basic rights, foremost among them the payment of overdue wages and the enforcement of the minimum wage approved by the state, stressing that the continued withholding of salaries threatens their livelihood and stability.
According to a statement by the journalists, violations extend beyond delayed wages. They reported that the workplace lacks health and social insurance, and that staff have been denied promotions, periodic raises, and bonuses—even for employees who have worked at the institution for more than ten years—constituting a clear breach of fundamental labor rights.
CFJ reaffirmed its solidarity with the journalists at Al‑Bawaba News, stressing their right to the enforcement of the minimum wage in accordance with the law.
The committee further underscored the importance of transparency in addressing the demands of the protesting journalists, particularly regarding the implementation of the minimum wage amid increasingly difficult economic conditions.
