(Photo from iffco.com)
The workers’ strike at Iffco Egypt, an oil and fat refining and processing company in Suez, reached its fifteenth day on Sunday amid the management’s decision to close down the factory until further notice.
A delegation of independent labour unions led by Kamal Abu Eita, head of the Independent Workers Syndicate Union, visited the factory on Saturday to show their solidarity with the workers. The delegation called on the striking workers to hold firm with their valid demands.
The workers are demanding their delayed profits and special allowances, reported state-owned news agency MENA. They are also demanding the return to work of their colleagues, who were fired by the company’s management.
The company denied the existence of a workers’ strike last week. In a disclaimer published in state-owned Al-Ahram, the company stated that it has been working according to the law for the past 15 years. It added that Iffco Egypt was one of the first companies in its field to work on bettering the conditions of its workers.
Since the strike began on 12 May the administration has responded by suspending nine union members, a move which triggered further displeasure.
Additional reporting by Hassan Ghonema
