The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented new punitive measures taken by the administration of Al-Shorbaji Textile Company, part of Helwan Spinning and Weaving Complex, against a number of workers who participated in a recent strike carried out by factory employees. The strike was held in protest against deteriorating living conditions, difficult working conditions, and continued discrimination in wages and financial benefits compared with their colleagues in other companies within the same holding group.
These measures include depriving 14 workers of their bonuses for six months, alongside the dismissal of two female workers employed on temporary contracts, and the transfer of two other workers to different job locations — a move that represents an escalation by management against the striking workers, amid calls to stop collective punishment and resolve legitimate demands through dialogue.
These punitive actions came despite the workers suspending their strike following parliamentary and official interventions, including a visit by MP Neswa Deeb, the participation of the Advisor to the Minister of State for Administrative Affairs and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor, as well as direct communication from the Minister of State for Administrative Affairs with concerned parties. An agreement was reached to pay EGP 50 per Saturday worked, which had been one of the main causes of the strike.
However, core worker demands remain unmet, including achieving full equality in wages and incentives with workers at “WelTEX” and “Helwan Textiles”, securing permanent contracts for temporary workers who have spent years under unstable working conditions, and reactivating the suspended union committee while granting it full legal authority.
Earlier, the CFJ had documented the management’s earlier moves, which included summoning a number of workers for investigation and suspending 18 of them from work — reflecting rising tensions between workers and factory management in the absence of comprehensive solutions to long-standing grievances.
The CFJ affirms full solidarity with the workers of Al-Shorbaji Textile Company and categorically rejects the punitive measures taken by management against those involved in the strike. The committee calls for an immediate halt to these measures and the reinstatement of all suspended and dismissed workers without discrimination or retaliation.
The CFJ also emphasizes the urgent need to grant all financial benefits to every worker without exception, ensuring equal wages and incentives between Al-Shorbaji workers and those in other companies within the same holding group. The committee further calls for the reactivation of the suspended union committee and enabling it to carry out its natural role in defending workers’ rights.
In addition, the CFJ urges company management to engage in serious and constructive negotiations with workers, away from escalation and collective punishment policies. The committee also calls on Egypt’s Ministry of State for Administrative Affairs to intervene promptly and effectively to protect workers’ rights and ensure social justice within the facility.