The Judiciary Upholds Compensation of EGP 181,000 to Journalist for Arbitrary Dismissal from “Roayah News”

On September 24, 2024, the Cairo Court of Appeal issued its ruling in Appeal No. 8492 of Judicial Year no.140, in favor of journalist “Mohamed A.” against the “Roayah News” network, rejecting the network’s appeal and upholding the lower court’s ruling. The court affirmed the journalist’s entitlement to compensation of EGP 181,000 for Arbitrary dismissal, along with compensation for the notice period and accrued vacation days.

The journalist began working for “Roayah News” on September 1, 2011, as a reporter with a salary of EGP 5,500. On July 29, 2022, he was unlawfully prevented from entering his workplace by the network’s security personnel, without any legitimate justification, in violation of labor laws and media regulations.

On July 2022, a group of dismissed journalists, including the plaintiff, filed a collective complaint with the Agouza Police Station and the Labor Office after being denied access to the network’s premises.

After attempts at an amicable settlement failed, the complaint was referred to the labor court. On October 30, 2022, the court of first instance awarded the journalist EGP 121,000 in financial and moral damages, in addition to EGP 16,500 for the notice period and EGP 43,633 for accrued vacation days.

The network appealed the decision, but the court ultimately issued a final ruling dismissing the appeal and upholding the total compensation awarded to the journalist.