Workers from the El-Mahalla Spinning and Weaving Company won a number of
concessions from the Cabinet Thursday, including increased bonuses and
food allowances.
The Cabinet will increase monthly bonuses by 200 percent for workers
receiving salaries between 60 and 120 EGP (U.S. $10-20), 125 percent for
workers with salaries between 120 and 180 EGP (U.S. $20-30), 100
percent for salaries between 180 and 300 EGP (U.S. $60-100), and 25
percent for those paid more than 300 EGP.
Minister of Manpower Ahmed al-Boraei said that the Restructuring Public
Companies' Fund of the Ministry of Investment will cover these bonuses
for six months, and El-Mahalla Spinning and Weaving Company’s budget
will cover bonuses for the next six months. The bonus increase will be
applied next October.
The cabinet will also increase the food allowance to Three Egyptian pounds (U.S. $0.50) per day.
The workers said that they would call off the strike planned for next Saturday and agree with the government’s offer.
Boraei also said that a meeting will be held to reform the
structures of the company, and a cabinet meeting will be held to discuss
the workers demands and to save the weaving industry from total
collapse.
