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Egypt: CFJ reports escalation of protests by workers at Nag Hammadi Aluminum Factory over reduced profits, calls for financial fairness  

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Press Release

 

The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored a surge in protests by workers at the Nag Hammadi Aluminum Factory, where employees have started a partial strike and are staging a sit-in within the factory to oppose the management’s decision to cut their annual profits by half, despite their substantial contributions to significantly increased revenues.

 

– Doubling profits without bonuses:

This year, factory profits reached approximately EGP 9.35 billion, and under company regulations, workers are entitled to 12% of these profits, equivalent to 120 months of wages. However, the company decided to grant only 66 months’ worth of wages, without providing any legal justification for this measure.

The profit reduction was reportedly aimed at covering a 50% allocation to the Holding Company’s budget, a figure that conflicts with the legally mandated range of 15% to 25%.

This decision has occurred amid an economic crisis and rising cost of living, further exacerbating workers’ hardships and negatively impacting their families. Workers have deemed this decision a provocation, especially as last year’s profits amounted to EGP 3 billion, yet they received profit shares equivalent to 58 months of wages.

This year, despite the doubling of profits, their efforts have been met with denial and disregard by the factory management, leaving workers feeling disheartened and wronged.

 

– Union silence on workers’ grievances:

Meanwhile, the General Union has remained silent on the workers’ demands, with no intervention by the Union Committee to negotiate with the factory management. This has forced the workers to escalate their response through a partial strike to protect the factory’s production lines and vital equipment.

 

– Calls for workers’ fair treatment:

In light of this situation, CFJ is calling for fair treatment of the workers and appropriate financial recognition of their efforts and achievements. The committee condemns the inaction of the General Union, which has taken no effective steps to support the workers’ demands or to negotiate with management, despite the significant economic and social pressures faced by workers.

CFJ also calls on the Egyptian Ministry of Labor to fulfill its role in safeguarding workers’ rights and to hold companies accountable for violating their legal obligations. Additionally, CFJ urges the factory management to initiate a serious and constructive dialogue with the employees to reach fair solutions that achieve financial justice, restore employees’ trust in the institution, and ensure organized and smooth operations within the factory for the benefit of all parties.

For more information and media requests or inquiries, please get in touch with us (+41229403538 / media@cfjustice.org)

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