CAIRO: The government has reneged on previous agreements regarding bonuses and monthly meal incentives, but we will stick to our demands, said Kamal Al-Fayoumi labor leader before attending a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Aly El Selmi late Thursday. Despite promise, “the government is now telling us that they are unable to secure the necessary funds to finance the agreement,” said Al-Fayoumi “They want to negotiate our raises while others, who are paid millions, retain their salaries,” he said. Workers at the Mahalla Spinning and Weaving Company canceled a planned strike last month after negotiations with the manpower minister succeeded. Workers agreed that monthly meal incentives will increase to LE 210 from LE 120; while monthly incentives will increase 200 percent for workers, 125 percent for assistants, 100 percent for shift supervisors and 25 percent for general managers. They also agreed to postpone negotiating the application of a profit-share system until the general assembly of the Holding Company for Cotton, Spinning and Textiles convenes. Workers' demands included pumping more funds into the operation, a minimum wage of LE 1,200 or 200 percent monthly incentive, and organizing internal workers' union elections on the scheduled date.
