Release the Workers of “Samanoud Weavers” Now

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

The regime of impoverishment and oppression is becoming more ruthless, as it has forcibly disappeared nine workers, including four women, from Samanoud Textile and Weaving Company, which is part of the public sector in Gharbia Governorate. This has been happening for four days now, simply because these workers were demanding the implementation of the minimum wage.

In a dangerous escalation, the regime is brutally retaliating against workers who are demanding the enforcement of the minimum wage—a policy the regime itself approved. Yet, its businessmen and the broker government consider themselves above the law and ignore the suffering of workers, who are increasingly being pushed into poverty and hunger by this regime.

Security forces arrested four female and five male workers from Samanoud Weaving Company, part of the public sector, showing that the regime equates men and women to oppression and abuse. The entire working class is under the yoke of impoverishment and authoritarian policies. These workers, who have been forcibly disappeared since their arrest last Sunday, were not calling for a new government or an end to company liquidations. They were simply demanding the implementation of President Sisi’s decision to raise the minimum wage to 6,000 Egyptian pounds and opposing the sale of their company to an investor who doesn’t respect their rights.

The authoritarian regime has ignored the demands of about 500 workers, including around 300 women, for several months. These workers have been struggling with meager wages of just 3,500 Egyptian pounds, and the regime refused to listen to them, citing company losses. At the same time, it denied them the right to form any union to represent their interests. In response, the workers declared a strike on August 18 and decided to stay overnight at the company since last Saturday.

This move seemed to drive the regime into a frenzy—a regime that hysterically raises prices (on energy, electricity, transportation, and more), sells companies, and liquidates others. In reaction, the regime decided to arrest several of the workers’ leaders from their homes.

At the same time, the security apparatus sent a parliamentary representative from the Wafd Party, Layla Abu Ismail, to the company to try to break the strike. She resorted to threats and intimidation, saying things like, “No one can twist the state’s arm,” “If the strike isn’t called off, we’ll arrest more people,” and “You have until Thursday, and then we’ll shut down the company.” She quoted the Minister of Industry, Kamel El-Wazir, as saying, “We won’t negotiate with strikers and won’t respond to their demands,” while “promising” the workers that their salaries would be increased within a month.
As of now, the workers remain steadfast in their strike, standing up for their livelihood and demanding the release of their colleagues under the slogan “Release before production” amidst a security siege, media blackout, threats of closure, and further arrests.

The Revolutionary Socialists condemn this security crackdown, which they see as part of the broader assault on freedoms, starting with the renewed arrest of journalists, clashes with the residents of Al-Warraq, and attempts to pass a disastrous draft law on criminal procedures that would strip away the rights of the accused, empower the prosecution, and diminish the role of defense lawyers.
The ruling authority, dominated by businessmen, is terrified of the resurgence of labor and social struggles, especially as they prepare for further price hikes in line with IMF policies. After plunging the country into a deep crisis, the burden of which falls squarely on the working poor, the regime has chosen to respond with repression and fear. We saw the same tactics during the strike at Mahalla Spinning and Weaving Company a few months ago.

We stand in solidarity with the workers of Samanoud Weaving and demand the immediate and unconditional release of the detained workers, a fair wage increase, and an end to the company’s sales. Their fight against the capitalist government is a fight that all trade unionists, Democrats, human rights activists, and socialists should support in the name of justice and freedom.

Striking is a legitimate right… against poverty and hunger.