Samnoud Weaving and Textile Management Suspends 10 Workers, Citing Allegations of “Damaging Egypt’s Economic Standing,” Coinciding With the Realease of 7 Others
On Monday, September 2, 2024, the management of Samanoud Weaving and Textile Company issued a decision to suspend ten workers implicated in Case No. 7648 of 2024, Samanoud Administrative Court. The management also decided to pay them half of their basic salary pending the resolution of the case. This decision follows a workers’ strike demanding the implementation of minimum wage regulations.
Among those suspended are seven workers who were released pending further investigation, along with union leader Hesham El-Banna, who remains in custody, and two other workers against whom arrest warrants have been issued.
The charges in the case include the deliberate disruption of production facilities with the intent to harm the national economy, incitement to organize meetings and demonstrations that threaten public security and order, obstruction of citizens’ rights and their ability to work, disruption of public utilities, organizing a gathering of five or more people that endangers public safety, refusal to comply with police orders to disperse, and attempting to influence public authorities and disrupt public services. The workers are also accused of deliberately harming the assets and interests of Samanoud Weaving and Textile Company in their capacity as public employees.
These developments occurred after the workers initiated a strike on Sunday, August 18, in response to repeated demands for the implementation of minimum wage regulations, in accordance with the decision of the Minister of Public Enterprise Sector, which mandates this for all employees of state-owned companies. The continued disregard of these demands by the management prompted the workers to escalate their actions by staging a sit-in at the company premises on Saturday, August 24, which led to the arrest and questioning of several workers following a complaint from the company’s legal representative, resulting in the subsequent administrative and legal actions.
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights strongly condemns the company’s decision to suspend the workers and reduce their entitlements based on fabricated charges, instead of resorting to negotiation to fulfill their legitimate rights enshrined in a presidential decree.
The Center demands the immediate release of union leader Hesham El-Banna following the release of the seven detained workers and calls for the cancellation of the arrest warrants against the two other workers. The Center also emphasizes the need to close the case entirely and end the repression of the workers’ legitimate demands.
The continuation of such repressive policies only demonstrates the administration’s intransigence and its desire to suppress fundamental labor rights, further proving that the charges against the workers are fabricated, stemming from the company’s complaint in an attempt to intimidate and silence the workers.
