Wave of labour protests, strikes spread across Egypt
Cairo – A series of labour strikes and protests in the public sector were held in different parts of Egypt’s capital Cairo on Saturday, with workers demanding better wages and working conditions.
Thousands of teachers held a protest in front of the cabinet’s headquarters in central Cairo on Saturday, as they demanded raising their wages to be equal to other professions, fixed working contracts and expelling the current minister of education.
They threatened to strike if their demands were not met. They say that the degrading conditions of their profession have left them with low social respect.
They carried banners that read: ‘Our legitimate demands, or else there will be no school this year.’
Teachers from the different provinces took part in the protest that blocked the street as they chanted ‘The teacher wants to oust the minister.’
Schools are expected to begin on September 17 in Egypt.
Meanwhile, dozens of young doctors protested outside the Health Ministry to demand higher wages, better medical service for citizens, and sacking corrupt officials within the ministry.
They threatened to escalate their rallies if their demands were not met.
Another group of doctors gathered in front of the health directorate in the coastal city of Alexandria, witnesses said.
Around 3,000 textile workers began their strike on Saturday, vowing to continue until a new rate for their minimum wage is set.
Egyptian workers want to press the cabinet to implement a one-year-old court verdict that ordered the government to raise the national minimum wage for workers to 1,200 Egyptian pounds (around 200 dollars) per month.
Postal workers across Egypt have began their strike last week to demand the restructuring of their wages, and ending corruption in their sector.
Workers in Egypt
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Campaign in Solidarity with Workers' Movement in Egypt 