CAIRO: Truck drivers around Egypt continued a general strike they began on Friday, which they say will go on until the government cancels a decree that bans the use of large trailers. The ban is due to take effect in January 2011. Despite reports of the strike, Sherif Gomaa, first deputy minister of interior for specialized police, denied the existence of a nationwide strike by truck drivers. "There is no irregular behavior or riots in any part of the country, Gomaa told state-run Al Ahram daily. Last Tuesday, truck drivers organized a press conference in which they collectively called on the President, the People's Assembly, the Prime Minister and all responsible bodies to interfere to prevent the implementation of the recently amended traffic law article regarding trailers. "The law is brutal and will cost many drivers and stakeholders in this field their jobs and their businesses.thousands will be unemployed, the drivers said as they gathered in Agouza. Truckers have threatened to sell their trailers or stop working altogether if the law is enforced, which will inevitably take its toll on international trade with Egypt due to the lack of cargo transportation. The adverse effects of the strike have already been felt in Gharbiya, for instance, where the price of cement went up to LE 800. In other areas, cement prices were at LE 700 per ton, compared to an average of LE 450 per ton for ex-factory prices. Grocery stores are complaining from the lack merchandise to continue operating. Ahmed El Zeny, head of the Transportation Committee at the Industries Union, says that the strike will continue until the government responds to the demands of the truck drivers and owners. The local press said that some drivers have allegedly received threats that their trucks and trailers would be set on fire if they do not join the general strike. During the PA discussions of the traffic law in which was approved last June, the two most controversial articles were those dealing with taxi license renewals for cars older than 20 years and large trailers. The amendments banned the use of truck trailers as well as the importing or manufacturing of trailers, with a grace period of two years for their owners to replace them with other cargo transportation means. Some drivers in the governorate of Gharbiya said that they will hold a sit-in in front of the PA if the government refuses to cancel the decree. However, Ezzat Badawy, deputy head of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee at the PA, says that the government is taking all possible measures to avoid an adverse effect on the public because of the decree. "There is a fund at the Ministry of Finance set to assist the drivers, he said, adding that this article in the traffic law cannot be cancelled for safety concerns. "These trailers currently cause 37 percent of road accidents. It was about time for something to be done, he said.
