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Alexandria, Egypt — August 20, 2025
More than 1,000 workers at the Misr Al-Amriya Spinning and Weaving Company have entered the third week of a strike, demanding overdue entitlements including health insurance, fair wages, and full labor rights. The protest, which began on July 30, has drawn national attention amid allegations of interference by Egypt’s National Security Investigations.
🧵 Workers Demand Accountability Over Unpaid Medical Debts
Striking employees say they have been denied access to medical care due to the company’s failure to settle EGP 4 million (approximately USD 82,730) in debts owed to hospitals. Despite regular deductions from their wages for health insurance, workers claim they were left without coverage when seeking treatment.
One employee, speaking anonymously, said:
“We’ve paid our share every month, but when we go to the hospital, they tell us the company hasn’t paid its dues. We’re being punished for their negligence.”
The union representing the workers has called for immediate resolution of the debt and restoration of medical services, alongside broader demands for wage transparency and job security.
⚠️ Allegations of Pressure from National Security
Several workers allege they have received phone calls from National Security officials urging them to end the strike. Some claim they were threatened with factory closure or legal action if they continued to protest.
According to reports, five employees were summoned for questioning by authorities just days before Egypt’s Senate elections. Labor advocates have criticized the move as an attempt to suppress peaceful industrial action.
Mahmoud Al-Awady, the company’s head of legal affairs, was named by workers as one of the officials allegedly involved in issuing threats of dismissal and imprisonment.
🏦 Management Response and Ownership Ties
The Misr Al-Amriya Spinning and Weaving Company is owned by Banque Misr, a state-run financial institution. In a public statement, the company’s newly appointed CEO acknowledged the workers’ demands and pledged to present them to the bank’s board of directors.
However, management has stated that any financial concessions—including wage adjustments or debt repayments—require approval from Banque Misr. The previous CEO, Ahmed Amr Ragab, resigned on August 11 following sustained pressure from the strike.
Ragab had defended his tenure, citing efforts to eliminate operational deficits and implement Egypt’s updated minimum wage of EGP 7,000 ($144). Yet workers accused him of manipulating wage structures and failing to honor seniority-based pay scales.
📉 Broader Context: Labor Unrest and Economic Strain
The strike at Misr Al-Amriya is part of a wider wave of labor unrest in Egypt’s textile sector, driven by inflation, stagnant wages, and deteriorating working conditions. Workers have rejected recent offers from Banque Misr, including modest increases in shift allowances and the provision of an ambulance, calling them insufficient given the scale of their grievances.
Some employees with decades of service reportedly earn less than EGP 6,000 ($120) per month, while senior managers and advisers receive salaries exceeding EGP 100,000 ($2,062).
🔍 What Comes Next
As the strike continues, workers await a formal response from the company’s acting CEO and the board of Banque Misr. Labor advocates are urging transparency, legal protections for striking workers, and a resolution that prioritizes employee welfare.
The outcome may set a precedent for future labor negotiations in Egypt’s state-owned industries, where tensions between workers’ rights and government oversight remain a persistent challenge.
