The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented a full-scale strike by approximately 1,500 workers at the Canal Company for Mooring and Lighting Ships, affiliated with the Suez Canal Authority, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. The strike comes in response to newly approved internal regulations by the company’s board that have led to a 25% reduction in workers’ profit shares.
According to the workers, the revised regulations stipulate that a portion of the profits will be redirected to the company’s Disaster and Crisis Fund. Additionally, monthly disbursements of these profits—customary in previous years—will be suspended, with payments to be made annually starting in 2027. The new policy also includes a reduction in the monthly incentive rate from 15% to 10%, effective next month.
Workers at the Port Said branch were shocked to find their wages slashed by nearly 50% compared to the previous month. Upon inquiry, they were informed that the changes had been approved by Chairman and Managing Director Tarek Makhareta and were already in effect. In response, the workers launched an immediate strike, which soon escalated into a sit-in after their colleagues from the Suez branch joined in. The protest remains ongoing at the time of writing.
In an effort to escalate their demands, a group of striking workers traveled to the Suez Canal Authority headquarters in Ismailia to meet with Chairman Osama Rabie. However, they were told by his office staff that he was unavailable and advised to schedule a meeting in the coming days. The workers returned to Port Said to rejoin the sit-in.
Meanwhile, security forces swiftly surrounded the company premises, imposing a strict lockdown and preventing administrative staff from joining the strike. The company’s management has refused to engage in dialogue with the workers until the sit-in is called off and operations resume.
CFJ has expressed its solidarity with the workers, affirming their right to receive their full financial entitlements and opposing any reduction in agreed-upon incentives. The committee also emphasized the need for transparency in addressing the workers’ demands, particularly in light of the challenging economic conditions they face.
