Interpretative Judgments and Compulsory Enforcement: The Egyptian Center Secures New Legal Victories for “Universal” Workers

In continuation of its role in defending the rights of workers at Universal Company, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) has achieved new legal victories. The Center’s lawyers have secured interpretative judgments regarding workers’ entitlements and compulsory enforcement of labor judgments in favor of the employees, contributing to the recovery of overdue rights and the reinstatement of workers to their positions.

In particular, the Center’s lawyers obtained two judgments in lawsuits seeking clarification of previous rulings concerning overdue entitlements, which had been unclear regarding the amounts and the period of entitlement.

On July 26, 2024, the Center obtained a labor judgment in favor of worker Moustafa Khalaf against Universal Company in a case interpreting the judgment issued in cases No. 1429 and 1582 of 2022, South Giza Labor Court, concerning the phrase “and payment of what is due but unpaid,” which refers to the plaintiff’s full salary amounting to EGP 3,950 from May 2022 until his return to work, resulting in total entitlements amounting to EGP 102,000.

In the same session, a judgment was issued in favor of worker “Amr J” against Universal Company in a case interpreting the judgment issued in cases No. 1517 and 1612 of 2022, South Giza Labor Court, concerning the phrase “and payment of what is due but unpaid,” which refers to the plaintiff’s full salary amounting to EGP 2,890 from May 2022 until his return to work, resulting in total entitlements amounting to EGP 75,000.

Additionally, the Center’s lawyers have completed the compulsory enforcement of eight judgments ordering the reinstatement of workers, with employees resuming work in accordance with the judgments issued in their favor.

The list of reinstated workers includes Hussein A, Ali B, Mohamed S, Mohamed S, Amr J, Islam M, Mustafa M, and Mahmoud A, in cases No. 1516, 1605, 1574, 1494, 1594, 1513, 1603, 1434, 1612, 1517, 1579, 1496, 1577, and 1439 of 2022.

 ECESR commends the recent judgments, as well as previous judgments in favor of the workers, for being decisive and conclusive in affirming their legitimate and legal rights. These rulings send a strong message to other companies about the importance of adhering to laws and respecting workers’ rights.

Previously, Universal Company’s management continued to be obstinate in paying workers’ entitlements in several factories, prompting dozens to file lawsuits against the company. The management retaliated by arbitrarily dismissing the workers without paying their dues, leading to court rulings for their continued employment.

As part of its efforts to protect workers’ rights, ECESR has secured new judgments from the Cairo Court of Appeal, Sixth of October Circuit, representing a judicial victory for a group of workers by rejecting the company’s appeals and amending the judgments to specify the amount and value of overdue entitlements during the litigation period up to the issuance of the rulings.

The court upheld the first instance judgment concerning the continuity of employment. This significant victory, achieved in a remarkably short time frame, stands as an exceptional accomplishment, with the judgment issued much faster than the usual timeframe for such cases in court.

The Center has addressed a total of 120 labor lawsuits, half of which were filed by the Center’s lawyers on behalf of the workers, while the other half were filed by the company against the workers simultaneously. The different court circuits decided to consolidate the cases of each worker and the company into a single decisive judgment.

The workers have been suffering from disruptions in the salary and wage system, leading to halted production at the company’s factories, manipulation of their wages by the management, and exposing them to poor living and financial conditions, driving some to commit or attempt suicide, among other crises.

 ECESR highlights that wage manipulation is not the only crisis facing the workers. They also face issues related to the lack of occupational safety and health measures at work sites, leading to workers (according to their testimonies) contracting liver cirrhosis, kidney diseases, and limb injuries resulting in amputations.