More than 400 workers from Tanta Flax and Oils Company protested at the company's headquarters in Gharbiya Governorate on Saturday, threatening to stage an open ended sit-in. The workers complained that their company has not yet been returned to the state despite a court ruling ordering it to do so by 21 September, and added that the transfer of ownership to the state would lead to huge benefits. The court ordered the company's return to the Chemical Industries Holding Company (CIHC), a public sector company. Gamal Othman, one of the workers, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the workers pledge to continue protesting until their demands are satisfied and the company is returned in its entirety. Meanwhile, a senior official from the CIHC confirmed the company has not yet been handed over, even though procedures to start the handover began on 31 October. The same official, who refused to be identified, said a Tanta court asked the CIHC to urge the government to implement the handover. He added that Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmy was asked to facilitate it and form a committee to negotiate with the company's Saudi owner for compensation. Selmy has not responded until now, which, he said, has led to the handover being delayed. “Still, the workers blame the CIHC for disregard,” the senior official said. Translated from the Arabic Edition
