(AFP PHOTO)
Customs workers are planning to hold simultaneous protests in their various places of work on Tuesday to push for change in the Customs Authority management.
The protests will be held by customs workers in airports and border crossings nationwide. So far, Cairo International Airport, Borg Al-Arab airport, Luxor, Assiut and Sohag airports and Safaga, Nuweiba and Hurghada ports have said that they will be participating in the protests.
The workers say their demands have been ignored for months by the authority’s management and by officials in the Finance Ministry.
The workers said in a statement that their demands include changing the staff of the office of the President of the Customs Authority, who they say have consistently sided with the interests of businessmen over those of the country. The workers are also demanding an end to bonuses for the staff in the president’s office, “who [number only] 200 but make an annual bonus larger than the amount of money half of the people in the authority make per year.”
They also demanded an end to the distribution of bonuses to persons from outside the authority, such as policemen.
The workers have called for an end to contracts with companies with proven records of corruption, as well as demanding the departure of officials within the authority with such records.
The workers added that they want transportation for customs workers who work in border crossings and remote areas.
“After long months with several finance ministers and three presidents of the Customs Authority, and there is no hope of reform or change,” the statement said.
