CAIRO: Prime Minister Essam Sharaf did not attend an army-sponsored Labor Day celebration organized by the official General Federation of Trade Unions, opting instead to issue a statement aired on national television. The celebration in Salam City was the first since a youth-led popular revolt ousted former president Hosni Mubarak, who annually used Labor Day to appease workers with insignificant raises, while his government consistently failed to meet demands for a fair minimum wage. The celebration was attended by Minister of Manpower Ahmed El-Borai, Petroleum Minister Abdallah Ghorab, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Samir Al-Sayyad and head of the Labor Union Ismail Fahmi. In his statement, Sharaf apologized for not attending the event and said that the January 25 Revolution called for three basic principles: “freedom, dignity and social justice.” He added that these were the same principles that guided Egypt towards a fair economy and equality between all Egyptians today. Sharaf said that the people and the government need to work together to move towards a democratic system that is based on transparency and fighting corruption; a system that gives all people the opportunity to express their demands in an organized manner that guarantees the government's constructive response. He vowed to reform the wages system, improve the living standards of Egyptians, guarantee the independence and freedom of trade unions and launch a program to encourage small and medium enterprises as well as assign a small Egyptian bank to finance these businesses. Labor Union Chief Fahmi paid tribute to the martyrs and the youth who spearheaded the revolution on Jan. 25 and changed the future of Egypt. The celebration honored the families of these martyrs, which, according to an official report by a fact-finding mission are 846 who died in violent clashes with security forces and demonstrators during peaceful protests in the early days of the uprising. The fathers of the martyrs were allowed to speak at the podium. One of them demanded that the Minister of Industry provide his other son with a job and free housing. “The martyrs are the masters of this country,” he said, chanting “glory to the martyrs” and “long live Egypt,” while the audience joined in. He referred to Mubarak as “the murderer” and cursed him and his clique. Another father asked government officials have mercy on the people and give workers their rights. “The sons of the [rich, influential] are not subjected to the injustice we are subjected to,” he said, at which the fathers were quietly asked to leave the podium, in an event that was being aired live.
