CAIRO: The real estate tax collectors' strike continued for a second day in front of the Ministers' Council after authorities refused to let them demonstrate in front of the People's Assembly. The number of protestors shrank to around 400 today with several female employees joining the protest. "We left our homes and children to take a stand and show solidarity with our co-workers. And we are determined not to leave this place until somebody gives us an answer, tax employee Layla Sherif told Daily News Egypt. Officials disregard of the protests led to escalating frustration among strikers. The nightly Channel Two talk show El-Beit Beitak attempted to contact Abdel Rasoul Isma'il, head of the Real Estate Tax Authority, as well as Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to no avail. Dream TV's talk show El Ashera Masa'an followed suit, only to find their mobile phones switched off. Hussein Daly, an employee at the Real Estate Tax Authority, told Daily News Egypt that they are expecting a quick and positive solution to the predicament, mainly because the new tax reforms require a large number of employees to "collect the billions of Egyptian pounds the country desperately needs. "They will come crawling back to us in the end, because after all, the government needs this money. The problem should be solved very soon, said Daly. Another tax employee, Sahar Abdu, told Daily News Egypt that the strike is different from previous ones. "The reason we undertook the last four strikes is because we were given false promises that were not fulfilled. This time we are not budging until an official decree is issued. A session was held at the People's Assembly to discuss potential solutions to the problem. At press time, workers were still awaiting the decree, which they expected to be announced yesterday evening. Workers were resolute about continuing their strike if the decision is postponed. "No matter how long it takes - five days, a week or a month - we will be here until our legitimate rights are realized.
