Amnesty International said that thousands of garment workers in the private sector, in the cities of Port Said and Ismailia in Egypt, are at risk of losing their jobs, reducing their incomes, or being forced to work without protective equipment amid fears of a spread of COVID-19.
Hundreds of other workers were fired from their jobs last month, and Egyptian business owners have publicly pressed the government in the past two weeks to keep private companies open, but it does not appear that many of them have addressed legitimate workers’ concerns about their safety and livelihood.
Amnesty International called on the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the private sector complies with labor and human rights standards, including those relating to occupational health and safety, and termination of service.
“Clothing workers in investment areas in Egypt are forced to choose between protecting their livelihood and protecting their lives”, said Philip Luther, director of research and advocacy for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
“The government must monitor the compliance of private sector companies with health and safety standards to reduce exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including providing workers with appropriate protection without discrimination and without any worker having to bear the costs”, added Luther.
On March 21, the governor of Port Said ordered the closure of five factories in the governorate, after news had emerged of COVID-19 cases in the city and the death of one of the workers.
Factory owners’ failure to implement this decision promptly led hundreds of low-income workers to stage labor protests on 22 and 23 March in the Port Said investment area. Strikes quickly spread to many factories in Ismailia.
Amnesty International has also examined a number of audio-visual materials that workers have exchanged, relating to overcrowded working conditions in two factories, and letters from at least two factory directors, to inform workers of reduced wages or compulsory annual leave.
On March 23, the seven factories were temporarily closed, while three factories extended their workers’ unpaid leaves until April 11, and four factories resumed production on April 4.
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