A number of labor demonstrations erupted on Monday in Cairo and in governorates outside the capital. In Gharbiya, some 800 workers of the Tanta Flax and Oils Company held a sit-in on company premises. Workers say they never received end-of-service bonuses, amounting to LE40,000 per worker, which had been promised them last month by Manpower Minister Aisha Abdel Hady. Meanwhile, employees of the Amonsito textile company continued to demonstrate before the parliament building in Cairo for the 15th consecutive day. Demonstrators expressed their increasing frustration because parliament postponed discussion of their demands until next Thursday. Dozens of physically- and mentally-challenged people also staged protests outside the parliament building to demand more job opportunities. According to law, public- and private-sector companies must allocate five percent of their job vacancies to the handicapped. On the same day, 60 teachers in Helwan went on strike after the state-run General Authority for Illiteracy refused to grant their students diplomas even though the students had passed exams. Meanwhile, textile workers of the Salemco Company concluded their strike after Manpower Ministry officials vowed to address their demands. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
