Egyptian women defend their jobs

Since April 21st Egyptian women working in the Mansoura-España Garments Company in Egypt have been on a sit-in strike protesting against unpaid wages. The strike is now in its 26th day and the 284 workers 75% who are women are being intimated by the owners who are refusing them any facilities with little food or water and sleeping on the floor. The company is now threatening to close down leaving the workers with no employment and possibly no compensation.

The United Bank (Al-Masraf Al-Muttahid) has notified the Mansoura-España Garments Company workers it will liquidate the firm, diregarding the agreement reached between the government and the parliament, as it decided the fate of the company already, without showing any signs it is interested in holding the agreed meeting with representatives from the Factory Union Committee, the General Federation of Trade Unions and Labor Ministry.

3arabawy has researched into the background of the bank involved in the liquidation which has direct links with the Central Bank of Egypt. For more on the strike and social movements in Egypt checks Hossam’s excellent blog.

The strike is significant because it shows how dire the situation is that women especially have chosen not only to strike but to occupy the premises, leaving their families, their children and husbands so far for 26 days. In taking the action the women are directly challenging the repressive regime of Hossain Mubarak (supported by the US), corporate exploitation as well as cultural and religious norms in defence of their jobs and right to work.