Press Release
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored that workers at the “CIDICO” Pharmaceuticals factory in 6th of October City organized a protest on Monday, November 4th, to demand the implementation of the minimum wage of 6,000 EGP and the disbursement of a cost-of-living allowance.
The workers stated that they had submitted multiple memos to the company’s management to request improvements to their financial conditions, pointing out that the starting salary for new hires is only 1,380 EGP. However, these requests went unanswered. One worker noted that the management’s continued disregard compelled them to demonstrate.
– Attempt to circumvent workers’ demands:
Following the protests, “CIDICO” management issued a decision to grant workers mandatory leave from Tuesday, November 5th, to Thursday, November 7th. The workers described this move as an attempt to sideline their demands and suppress their protest movements.
Despite the workers’ demands, data reveals that “CIDICO” is one of the pillars of the state-run “Academia Pharmaceutical Group,” in which the Egyptian government holds a 31% stake. Academia reported sales of 15 billion EGP in the first nine months of the year and plans to invest 400 million EGP in CIDICO early next year. However, workers continue to endure low wages, highlighting a stark disparity between the company’s substantial profits and the harsh working conditions faced by its employees.
It is worth noting that the minimum wage decision, announced last February and extended to both public and private sectors in April, followed previous strikes organized by labor groups, reflecting the growing momentum of workers’ demands for wage justice in Egypt.
– Solidarity with workers and calls for justice:
CFJ has reiterated full solidarity with the workers’ legitimate demands, urging CIDICO’s management to implement the minimum wage law and fulfill its responsibilities. The committee also emphasized the need for constructive and positive dialogue with workers to resolve the crisis.
Furthermore, CFJ has called on the Egyptian Ministry of Labor to intervene immediately to ensure justice for the workers and enforce the law to protect their financial rights at “CIDICO” Pharmaceuticals.
