Despite ongoing talks between the government and managers of textile factories in Mahalla, the option of a partial strike is still up for discussion.
Textile factory owners, members of the weaving industries federation, and other industry personnel are to meet again Tuesday night to discuss further methods of escalation.
Factory owners cited major price hikes for textiles—both local and imported—which subjected several factories to a drop in production and the possibility of labour layoffs.
On Tuesday, more than 750 owners of licensed companies and factories threatened to start a strike as escalation and to stop paying insurance to the government for their workers.
They pointed out that the number of workers in the factories exceeded 250,000, all of whom are facing the threat of unemployment due to the government’s negligence in the wake of the current economic turmoil, according to a statement.
However, a prominent labour leader, who requested anonymity, told Daily News Egypt that the calls for partial strikes are made by the factory owners and not the workers. He explained that the workers will be negatively affected; nevertheless, they are not included in the decision making.
