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Mada
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Helwan University administration seeks to downgrade contracts of over 300 employees
The administration at Helwan University is seeking to transfer over 300 of its employees from renewable, short-term contracts to new contracts this month, which would strip them of their existing employment rights. The workers, who have been employed by the state university in Cairo under automatically renewable annual contracts for years, have been anticipating that the university would grant them permanent contracts as mandated by law. The permanent contracts would entitle them to promotions and raises based on seniority and rank. Instead, the new contracts offered to them would reclassify them as daily wage laborers. While they receive fixed wages, social insurance and other benefits under their existing agreements, the contracts the administration is attempting to impose on them would leave them without any of these protections. The workers, who say they were not informed of the change at all, are taking action to reject the move and demanding permanent contracts, arguing that having worked for over a decade they are legally entitled to tenure, or at least continued renewal of their short-term contracts, according to several workers who spoke to Mada Masr. Workers received a written notice from the university's human resources department in March instructing them to visit the administration office to 'sign the contracts in preparation for renewal starting from July 1.' Temporary contracts are always renewed automatically on July 1 each year, said one worker, who has been employed in the university's auxiliary services for 13 years. Around 50 workers signed the new contracts without carefully reviewing them, assuming they were part of the tenure process — especially since the administration had requested their hiring documents again, several workers told Mada Masr. Upon reading the terms, however, some realized that the contracts were different from those they had signed in previous years. The auxiliary service worker was one of the 300 who refused to sign. They told Mada Masr that after so many years of service, they should have been granted tenure. One worker, a janitor at the university for 13 years, was among those who unknowingly signed the new contract, believing it was a tenure agreement. The university's administration required the janitor to submit specific documents for the new contract. To cover the costs of obtaining these documents, they had to borrow money, as they only earn LE4,700 per month. 'At first, we were happy, thinking we were finally getting tenure. We got the paperwork done, only to realize I was borrowing money to get myself fired,' they said. When the administration refused to provide the worker with a copy of their new contract, they filed a report at Helwan Police Station, accusing the university of fraud. Workers say they faced intense pressure and threats of dismissal from the administration, especially after seeking help from a member of parliament. The MP instructed them to record a 'video appeal' outlining their demands, which was then sent to the university head. On March 11, MP Samira al-Gazzar submitted an inquiry to the prime minister and the labor minister regarding the university threatening its workers to force them into signing the new contracts, as well as the employees who signed the new contracts unknowingly. She argued that the university's actions infringe on workers' rights and contradict 'its own staffing needs, particularly given the high number of employees retiring.' The auxiliary worker who spoke to Mada Masr mentioned that they had worked in several positions at the university, given major staffing shortages. Mada Masr reached out to Helwan University's administration for comment, but the university president's office director Tarek Ali declined to respond, saying that only the university's secretary-general Major General Mohamed Abu Shoqqa was authorized to speak on the matter. When contacted, Abu Shoqqa refused to comment over the phone. Lawyer Haitham Mohamadein told Mada Masr that Law 19/2012, which amended civil service regulations, mandates that all short-term state employees must be granted permanent contracts after three years of service — a requirement upheld under the Civil Service Law 81/2016. Helwan University's short-term employees are therefore entitled to tenure under Article 187
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly's new home - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
The final design of the new home stadium of Egyptian sports club Ahly was unveiled on Friday at a high-profile ceremony in Luxor's Hatshepsut Temple, attended by club dignitaries and partners. The event also served as a run-up to Ahly's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup which will take place in the United States from 14 June to 13 July. Construction, in the city of 6 October in Cairo, is set to begin immediately, with completion targeted within close to four years. The event was attended by Egyptian football officials, players and celebrities from all over the world. Egyptian powerhouse Ahly, chosen by the African Football Federation as the African Club of the 20th Century, have taken an enormous dive toward realising their long-awaited vision with the official launch of the 'Project of the Century', a sprawling sports city in Sheikh Zayed, west of Cairo, during the FIFA Club World Cup trophy ceremony. Backed by a group of local and international partners, the landmark stadium aims to transform Egypt's sports infrastructure and cement Ahly's status as a continental powerhouse. It will deliver a 42,000-seat stadium designed without a running track to maximise fan proximity to the pitch, aligning with global standards, specialized facilities which include a sports hospital, museum chronicling the club's 120-year legacy, a sports university, a youth academy and a hotel. The two-phased construction will first prioritise the stadium and hotel while phase two introduces the university, hospital and auxiliary training pitches. Egyptian financial heavyweight Beltone Leasing & Factoring has committed LE4 billion ($80 million) to the project, with developer Al Qalaa Al Hamraa for Facilities Management securing additional funding to meet the total estimated cost of LE8 billion to LE9 billion. Beltone's role as exclusive financial advisor highlights the initiative's strategic importance to Egypt's economic and sporting ambitions. The collaboration includes 15 global and regional firms, including Hilton International, UAE-based Palm Sport, and leading engineering consultancies, ensuring world-class execution. Ahly President Mahmoud Al-Khatib hailed the project as a 'historic milestone', emphasising its role in diversifying the club's revenue streams and elevating Egypt's global sports profile. 'From 1907, all club members, officials and fans lovers, we all dreamt of this moment.' Al-Khatib praised Mohamed Kamel, CEO of Al Qalaa Al Hamra, for his work on the stadium. Kamel had said: 'This isn't just a stadium – it's a holistic hub for health, education, and athletic excellence.' 'In our journey,' Al-Khatib said, 'we faced some things which were solved and also when we claimed this land at Sheikh Zayed, we faced obstacles that the highest structures we could build could be only six metres tall. We presented our plan to officials who were very cooperative when they saw our seriousness and insistence. After we drew up plans we received the go ahead allowing us 30 metres in height for the stadium and an additional 12 metres for other buildings in the club,' Al-Khatib, a former Ahly football star, said. Al-Khatib then shared with the audience his personal battle with health issues. 'In 2023, I went through health problems which were not good. I went abroad [for treatment] and then after returning, I shared my condition with my fellow board members and I told them I needed a long break.' He recalled that board member Amri Farouk had at the time slipped into a deep coma. 'So, we all forgot about having breaks and focused on our work. 'Three months ago, I started feeling unwell and rumours broke out about my health and the results of my medical tests. I wanted to forget all the news and the pressure. However, we were close to January, the time when we needed to focus on our players and those who wanted to join the club. We had already set a date for the unveiling. So, it was important for me to continue. 'And now that all is good with football and the launch of the stadium, I discussed with my colleagues about taking a break after this event. So, with your permission, I am taking a break for a while, then have another check-up and wait for the results.' During his address, Kamel unveiled the stadium's once closely guarded design via a video showcasing its standout features, including stands emblazoned with the club's iconic name and logo, a suspended circular screen beneath the roof, premium changing rooms, and adjacent restaurants and cafés. The sports city is poised to boost tourism, generate employment and inspire future athletes. By integrating cutting-edge medical, educational, and training facilities, the project aims to nurture homegrown talent and position Egypt as a regional sports leader. With groundwork now underway, Ahly's legion of supporters eagerly anticipate a new era for the club and Egyptian sport. So far, the club plays its matches in Cairo Stadium and Al Salam Stadium. Training is held in Ahly's old downtown club overlooking the Nile. * A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
Mada
05-02-2025
- Business
- Mada
Strike at Egyptian-Chinese drilling company over salaries, bonuses
Workers on permanent contracts at the Egyptian-Chinese Drilling Company (ECDC) in Suez's Ain Sokhna staged a strike on Wednesday, demanding salary adjustments, the release of stalled bonuses, profit-sharing, higher allowances, a transparent promotion policy and better healthcare benefits, a striking worker told Mada Masr. The source, who has been with the company for 18 years, said that the factory operates a single 12-hour shift starting at 8 am. All permanent employees — laborers, administrative staff and engineers — have joined the strike to demand wage increases in line with salary brackets in the petroleum sector. According to the source, the striking workers earn LE5,000-LE7,000 in base pay, with an average total salary of LE10,000, unchanged since 2023. The company's Chinese management has since refused to raise wages for permanently employed staff while approving pay hikes for seconded employees who have been with the company for less than a year, the source said. In 2022, the company announced job openings for secondment contracts from other firms in the petroleum sector. The source noted that the company frequently outsources labor by calling for workers via subcontractors, who supply laborers on a shift basis depending on operational needs. Workers view the practice as a way for the company to avoid committing to pay raises for full-time staff. Striking workers are also demanding the disbursement of annual bonus, which have been paused since 2023. Other demands include disbursing unpaid entitlements from the National Petroleum Day grant and an increase in healthcare benefits for employees and their families, which have been capped at LE4,000 since 2007 despite medical inflation. They are also seeking recognition of their right to end-of-service compensation. Additionally, workers are calling for a clear promotion policy, the implementation of a 15-percent increase in allowances paid on the basis of expertise and output specialization — which was approved by the board in 2023 but never implemented — and the disbursement of all bonuses mandated by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC)'s regulations and directives. According to the source, ECDC management has repeatedly promised to address these demands over the years but consistently failed to follow through. In December, workers staged a protest and filed a complaint with the labor office only to receive yet another set of unfulfilled promises. In January, they escalated their grievances to the petroleum minister, but their complaint went unanswered, prompting their strike. The General Trade Union for Petroleum Workers reached out to the strikers, the worker said, promising to respond to their demands after discussions with the EGPC. Founded in 2007, ECDC specializes in the production of oil drilling equipment for both local and international markets. The Chinese partner holds a 50-percent stake in the company. In 2023, the company officially celebrated the transfer of manufacturing technology from China to Egypt and the production of Egypt's first locally made oil rig, backed by US$6.5 million in investments.
Mada
28-01-2025
- Business
- Mada
Authorities arrest 26 workers as thousands strike for fair pay at supplier for international brands
Authorities in Egypt arrested 26 people on Saturday who work for the east Cairo factories of T&C Garments, a Turkish-Egyptian clothing manufacturer that supplies goods to global brands including Levis, UNIQLO and Tommy Hilfiger. Around 6,000 employees at T&C Garments' Obour City complex began a strike for fairer wages at the beginning of the year. As the cost of living increases, they demand that the company increase bonuses, commissions and meal allowances for workers, who currently take home less than minimum wage per month. Four workers at the T&C Garments factory told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that security forces arrested 26 of their colleagues from their homes over the weekend. Among those arrested was Ahmed Hassan Abdel Aziz from the Zawamel village in the Sharqiya Governorate, according to one of the company employees from the same village, who described authorities arresting his colleague from his home on Saturday evening. A larger group of police and Central Security Forces personnel is now stationed outside the factory premises in the Industrial Zone at Obour City, the sources said. Only workers from the packing, laundry and cutting departments were admitted to the premises for Sunday's shift at the company, which suspended daily transport into the industrial zone for night shift workers as soon as the strike began and did the same for morning shift workers in most departments shortly afterward. When workers arrived at the factory on Sunday, they gathered in the yard in front of the administration office, where they declared they would continue their strike until their demands were met. 'The company is trying to divide us to break the strike,' one worker told Mada Masr. T&C's executive manager presented an offer to the workers on Sunday, another laborer said. 'They offered us a 17 percent bonus increase, which we rejected. We want 50 percent.' The thousands of factory workers launched their strike on January 16, demanding a 50 percent increase in their annual bonus to cope with rising living costs, a raise in meal allowances from LE600 to LE1,200, an implementation of the minimum wage, permission for discretionary leave and paid public holidays, in accordance with the labor law. Workers at the company currently take home between LE4,000 and LE5,000 per month, substantially below the minimum wage for the private sector, which is set at LE6,000. Bonuses, which the laborers expected to receive in the third week of January, are also yet to be paid out, one worker said. They are also demanding that the company improve its on-site health clinic, which is poorly equipped and offers little more than painkillers, they say. Workers who fall ill or are injured on the job must seek treatment outside the company at their own expense, and if they have to take leave for health reasons, they are only paid a quarter of their daily wage, workers told Mada Masr last week. The strike is further calling for the dismissal of HR manager Mohamed Abdel Rahman for insulting workers. T&C Garments, a partnership between Egypt's Tolba Group and Turkey's Tay Group, manufactures ready-made clothing for well known brands, including Levis, UNIQLO and Tommy Hilfiger. The factory operates under the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) agreement, a protocol established by the US in 1996 to build economic ties between Israel and its neighbors, which requires that Egyptian products include a 10.5 percent component to enter the US market. The company exports 70 percent of its production to the US and the rest to Europe.
