CAIRO: Several officials refuted claims by Ghazl Al Mahalla workers that both sides would meet to discuss the still-unanswered workers demands. Leaders of Ghazl Al Mahalla workers' movement announced plans to meet officials from the ministry, the syndicate and the company's board of directors this week, but none of these officials confirmed that any meetings are scheduled to take place. Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel Hady told Daily News Egypt, We are in continuous contact with the Ghazl Al Mahalla workers and their leaders, refuting news about any special meetings taking place this week. Mohammed Al Attar, spokesperson of the December 7 Movement of Ghazl Al Mahalla Workers, said leaders of the movement will meet with representatives from the ministry, syndicate as well as the head of the company's Board of Directors, Mahmoud Al Gibaly. The meetings, he said, will be part of a three-day program organized by the General Union for Workers Syndicate to discuss workers demands. Al Attar said the three-day program will include a series of meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Manpower to discuss the implementation of ILO (International Labor Organization) regulations in the company. They were then supposed to meet Said Al Gohary, the head of the Syndicate for Textile Workers, and with Al Gibaly. Al Gohary told Daily News Egypt that he did not know any thing about these meetings, but that workers are welcomed to meet with him anytime. According to Al Attar, the workers' movement received an official invitation from the Center of Workers Education in Mahalla, which is affiliated with the General Union for Workers' Syndicate. Hussein Mogawer, the head of the union could not be reached for a comment. There are still some worker's demands that need to be met, said Al Attar, such as receiving their bonuses and the annual share of the company s profit as one lump sum, not piecemeal. If a worker, for example, wants to buy a refrigerator, he could use this chunk of money, but they money could be wasted if received piecemeal, Al Attar said. Previously, the union promised the workers a monthly bonus - comprising an undecided percentage of their basic salary - up to 10 percent of the company s annual sales, and special buses for their commute. I salute the Union for such a step, Al Attar Said.
