The Egyptian Center Secures Compensation Ruling for “Altreeq” Journalist of EGP 87,500 for Arbitrary Dismissal

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights has successfully secured a ruling from the North Giza Primary Court, awarding compensation to a journalist from “Altreeq” newspaper, which is owned by Al-Safwa Company for Journalism, Printing, and Publishing. The court ruled that the journalist was entitled to EGP 87,500 in compensation for Arbitrary Dismissal, in addition to compensation for the notice period, accrued vacation days, and overdue salary.

The case, filed by the Center on behalf of journalist Mahmoud R.A., traces back to November 2023, when he was suddenly prevented from entering his workplace by the newspaper’s security personnel without any legitimate reason, in clear violation of labor laws, press regulation laws, and the norms governing journalistic work.

Following this incident, the journalist filed an official complaint at the Agouza Police Station, documenting his unlawful prevention from entering the workplace, and subsequently lodged a complaint with the Agouza Labor Office.

When amicable settlement efforts failed, the journalist requested that the Labor Office refer the complaint to the competent labor court for adjudication. The case was registered with the North Giza Primary Court, which, after considering the matter, issued its ruling on July 29, 2024, ordering compensation for the journalist’s Arbitrary dismissal, in addition to compensation for the notice period and accrued vacation days.

Earlier, the Egyptian Center had secured four separate rulings from the North Giza Primary Court, awarding a total of EGP 455,000 in compensation to four other journalists from “Altreeq” newspaper for similar cases of wrongful termination, as well as compensation for the notice period, accrued vacation days, and overdue salaries.

These cases, which were filed by the Center on behalf of a group of journalists from “Altreeq,” also stem from incidents in November 2023, when they were abruptly barred from their workplace by the newspaper’s security personnel without any legitimate reason, in contravention of the provisions of labor laws, press regulation laws, and the inherent nature of journalistic work.