The Egyptian Center Calls for the Immediate Release of “Samnoud Weaving” Workers and Urges Management to End the Repression of Legitimate Demands Using Security Measures

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights strongly condemns the actions taken against the workers of Samnoud Weaving and Textile Company. On Sunday, August 25th, security forces arrested eight workers, including three women, and they were charged in Case No. 7648 of 2024, Samnoud Administrative Court, due to their participation in a lawful strike demanding the implementation of the minimum wage.

The Center calls for the immediate release of the detained workers and urges the company’s management to cease repressing their legitimate demands through security measures.

The opposition judge issued a decision to detain the workers, while their lawyers have filed an appeal against this decision, and we are currently awaiting a hearing date for the appeal.

Meanwhile, the detained workers are experiencing alarming health conditions, with some suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart conditions, in addition to cases of herniated discs and severe respiratory crises. One of the detainees is the sole breadwinner for his family, while another suffers from severe knee injuries and a torn cruciate ligament.

These developments followed the workers’ declaration of a strike on Sunday, August 18th, after repeated demands to management for the implementation of the minimum wage, as mandated by the Minister of Public Business Sector’s decision to apply it to all workers in sector-affiliated companies. The continued neglect of their demands by the management led the workers to escalate their stance by staging a sit-in at the company’s headquarters on Saturday, August 24th, which resulted in the arrest of several workers and their subsequent interrogation by security forces.

Samnoud Weaving and Textile Company was established in 1974 in Gharbia Governorate and was once part of the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in El-Mahalla El-Kubra. Although it originally comprised three factories and employed nearly 2,000 workers, the workforce has dwindled to less than 600 due to management policies.

In this context, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained workers and urges the company’s management to adopt negotiated solutions rather than resorting to security measures, which only serve to exacerbate the crisis.

We also call for the initiation of serious dialogue with the workers to reach a fair agreement that guarantees their legitimate rights, contributes to the stability of work within the company, and serves the interests of all parties involved, thereby fostering a healthy work environment.