Egypt
Economy, tax incentives & labor conditions
The 2002 Special Economic Zones Law laid the legal foundation for setting up export-oriented SEZs. Newly established investment companies in the zones are exempted from complying with legal clauses relating to labour organising, depriving workers of the right to set up local union committees. The private employers in Egypt’s Special Economic Zones show very little respect for labour rights. Most workers in the Tenth of Ramadan City zone are forced to sign letters of resignation before beginning employment so that they can be fired at the employers’ convenience. Working conditions are very bad, with long hours, low pay and poor safety standards, but it is difficult for labour activists to do anything about it given the restrictions on collective bargaining and the ban on strikes.
(ITUC-CSI
, Suisse
, 01/12/2007
, Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights
)
In the private sector, employers are not interested in collective bargaining, and do not even respect government requirements or rulings on the minimum wage, social security and other issues.
(ITUC-CSI
, Suisse
, 01/12/2007
, Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights
)
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