Egypt: Who Will Stop Slavery?

Egypt: Who Will Stop Slavery In The Free Economic Areas?

Some multinational companies in Egypt violate workers' rights after the industrial areas law has been issued to relieve industrial foundations from their legal obligations related to work organization, which has deprived workers in these areas from their rights to safe and decent work.

These companies and businessmen don't care about workers' rights, as workers are forced to work without contracts and they sign a resignation before they start working, which gives the employer the right to fire them at anytime without any obligation or having to pay them any dues.

These workers work for long hour, for very low fees and in unhealthy work environments, which prevent these workers from practicing any syndicate work to demand their rights, as these companies are supported by the government who is supposed to be fighting for workers' rights, not against them.

The LCHR has received a case from the workers in a German company in the free area who have been working in it for more than five years producing car parts for only 500 LE a month. They state that there are more than 6000 workers in this company, and every five years, the company changes most of its workers, because most of them suffer from different cases of spine injury. The company refuses to employ workers for more than five years, as they become medically unqualified or unfitting to continue working after that period. These workers have filed complaints no. 202, 204 and 205 on 24/6/2009 to the labor office after being fired to either get back to work or receive their late salaries and bonuses. The unfortunate thing, is that the officials in the free area told these workers that it is a waste of time to file these complaints, as the companies in the free area are not obligated to the Egyptian labor laws.

The LCHR wonders, which labor law in which country would deny workers their financial dues after having health deterioration while working and becoming unfit for hard labor because of the bad work conditions he used to work in.

The LCHR regrets the negative actions of the Egyptian government towards such violations against workers' rights in the free area, as workers are also deprived of syndicate actions and participation to demand their rights in a legal manner. The government also hinders collective negotiations in the private sector, making it also impossible for workers to strike because of what workers face of detention, humiliation and beating on the hands of the police.

In this context, the LCHR has presented the complaints of these workers and workers from other companies in the free economic area to the Minister of Manpower and the Workers' General Union to protect workers' rights in these areas especially to fair fees, decent working conditions, syndicate freedom and healthcare.

The LCHR also demands the members of the People's Assembly, the Consultative Council, civil society organizations, the Ministers of Industry, Commerce and External Affairs to amend the labor laws in the free areas and force multinational companies and businessmen to apply the international work criteria and be obligated to the agreements of the International Work Organization to guarantee workers' rights, especially here in Egypt.

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. The above statement has only been forwarded by the AHRC.

ENDS