The Committee for Justice (CFJ) had documented the dismissal of hundreds of workers by the management of INNOVA Ceramics (formerly Pharaohs) in the Kom Oshim Industrial Zone in Fayoum. Among those dismissed were 57 women and 130 workers with disabilities employed under the 5% quota system. This followed the workers’ refusal to accept a mandatory six-month leave during which they would only receive their basic salary.
According to dismissed workers, several affected individuals had gone to the “Tamiya” Labor Office to file complaints against the company’s management, protesting what they described as an unjust decision. They confirmed that the management had informed 350 workers from various departments — including storage, costing, and ceramic and porcelain production lines — that they would either have to accept mandatory leave or face contract termination if they refused.
The workers added that the management had removed their attendance records from the fingerprint system, preventing them from entering the workplace or meeting with company officials. They also pointed out that many of the dismissed workers suffer from respiratory and spinal conditions caused by working conditions, and they had expected to be exempt from the dismissal decisions — yet this did not happen.
These measures are part of a broader layoff policy implemented by the company since the beginning of 2024. The company had reportedly been transferring workers to its subsidiary factory, “Al-Malika,” which relies heavily on manual labor, pushing workers to resign voluntarily.
The company’s employees had previously staged a strike on January 22, 2024, demanding the payment of overdue salaries and wage increases to match the minimum wage of 7,000 EGP, as their average wages did not exceed 4,000 EGP. They also called for the reinstatement of the company’s transport services, which had been suspended by management, forcing employees to bear their own commuting expenses.
The CFJ expresses full solidarity with the dismissed workers from INNOVA Ceramics, calling for urgent intervention by the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower to ensure the reinstatement of the workers and compensation for the material and moral damages they suffered as a result of these arbitrary dismissal decisions.
The CFJ also emphasizes the need for immediate measures to protect workers’ rights, especially the most vulnerable groups, such as women and people with disabilities, who were significantly affected by these decisions.
The CFJ further urged the company’s management to adhere to Egyptian and international labor laws, which guarantee workers’ rights to fair and safe working conditions and protect them from arbitrary dismissal. The committee stressed the importance of reviewing the company’s policies to ensure compliance with international labor standards, including the right to fair wages and social protection.
The CFJ emphasizes that the continuation of such practices threatens workers’ stability and that of their families, while also negatively impacting the company’s reputation and its commitment to social responsibility. The committee called for serious dialogue between the company’s management and workers to reach fair solutions that safeguard the rights of all parties involved.
