ECESR Mourns the Victims of the Tragic Minya Accident and Calls for Urgent Measures to Halt the Ongoing Loss of Workers’ Lives
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) expresses its profound sorrow and deep concern over the tragic accident that occurred on the Western Desert Road near the village of Tuna El-Gebel, in the Mallawi district of Minya Governorate. The incident resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and injuries to 25 others—most of whom were agricultural workers, including women and children.
Informal labor, which constitutes a substantial segment of Egypt’s workforce, frequently operates under conditions lacking occupational safety and social protection. These deficiencies render workers highly vulnerable to workplace hazards and accidents. The absence of social insurance and adequate healthcare provision compounds their hardship and leaves their families facing an uncertain and insecure future.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar accidents have occurred repeatedly, and the ongoing recurrence of such tragedies—without the adoption of decisive and preventative measures—raises serious concerns regarding the commitment of the relevant authorities to protecting the lives and rights of citizens.
The continued occurrence of such fatal accidents is a direct consequence of systemic failures, including insufficient oversight and the lack of a comprehensive national occupational safety and health strategy. This is particularly critical in the agricultural sector, where women, in particular, are subject to highly precarious working conditions, devoid of protective equipment or enforceable guarantees.
In March, the Ministry of Labor announced the disbursement of EGP 1.6 million in compensation to the families of eight informal workers who lost their lives in separate incidents across six governorates—an amount of EGP 200,000 per family.
While this may be viewed as an official recognition of the sacrifices made by these workers, the allocated compensation fails to reflect the magnitude of the loss—especially against the backdrop of the country’s ongoing economic challenges.
The provision of post-incident compensation does not absolve the authorities of their duty to ensure safe working conditions and uphold labor rights. Effective preventative policies must be implemented to reduce workplace accidents and guarantee the safety and well-being of workers, rather than relying on financial compensation after the fact.
We hold the competent authorities fully accountable for their failure to adopt the necessary measures to protect the lives of citizens and call for the immediate implementation of the following actions:
Enforce effective oversight of transportation methods used for laborers, ensuring full compliance with safety regulations;
Rigorously enforce labor laws prohibiting child labor, and provide accessible educational and economic alternatives for children;
Develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy for occupational safety and health, with specific provisions addressing the unique vulnerabilities of agricultural workers—particularly women facing heightened risks and marginalization.
