Solidarity with the Samanoud Workers!

Last week, eight workers were forcibly disappeared in Egypt. The eight workers, including three women from Samanoud Textile and Weaving Company, which is part of the public sector in Gharbia Governorate, were arrested from the company grounds after striking for minimum wage. One more woman worker was wanted, but she went on the run. The company was originally comprised of three factories and employed nearly 2,000 workers. Yet due to management policies the size of the workforce has shrunk to 600.

The strike began on August 18th, during which workers demanded the implementation of President Sisi’s decision to raise the minimum wage to 6,000 Egyptian pounds and opposed the sale of their company to an investor who didn’t respect their rights.

The eight detained workers are suffering from severe health conditions, whereby some have chronic diseases, such as heart conditions. Among the arrested workers are the sole breadwinners of the family. Their detention is a way in which the regime intimidates them physically and psychologically.

Only yesterday, the prosecutor accepted seven detainees’ appeal and ordered their release. However, one labor leader, Hisham el-Banna, remains in custody.

Despite ongoing intimidations, other Samanoud Textile and Weaving Company workers continue to strike.

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.