Hundreds of Egyptian workers continued protests today to call for improved pay and working conditions and for a fight against corruption. Around 1000 workers and employees from Cairo Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Industries in Shubra staged a sit-in. Some protesters told Al-Masry Al-Youm that management prevented them entering the company's headquarters on Tuesday, saying it has given them a three-day vacation. They said this was as attempt to break up the protest. Workers started protesting on 27 February, demanding the dismissal of the company's board of directors as well as certain sector heads they accuse of corruption. They also said they wanted permanent contracts and higher bonuses. Meanwhile more than 300 workers from Samuel Tex, a linens manufacturer, announced a strike to call for the payment of their salaries, better pay, fixed working hours, and official days off work as stated in the law. The workers said Samuel Louis, the owner of the company, makes them work 12 hours per day and has them sign clearance forms when they take jobs, so they can be arbitrarily dismissed at any moment.
