Introduction 

The Labor and Social Movements Monitoring Center has documented 23 protests that took place during the month of January 2021.

These protests are divided into: 13 social protests and 10 labor protests.

These protests also coincide with the Egyptian government’s attempt to liquidate the companies owned by the people, such as “Talkha Fertilizer” and the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company (EISC) in Helwan, which is considered as an act of confiscation of the Egyptian people’s assets and property.

The protests monitored by the center have greatly diversified; including: sit-ins, protest vigils, suicide cases, and field-based protests.

The reporting month also witnessed 7 cases of suicide that are due to economic reasons.

 

The details of labor protests can be summed up as follows: 

Governorate Type of protest Details of protest
Qena- Naga’ Hammadi Sit-in Workers at Egypt Aluminum Company (Egyptalum) staging a sit-in
Cairo- Helwan Sit-in Workers at the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company staging a sit-in to protest against the liquidation decision
Qena- Naga’ Hammadi Sit-in Dozens of lawyers at Naga Hammadi court staged a sit-in to protest the arbitrariness practiced by the court’s judge
Damietta- New Damietta City Strike Cleaning workers at the New Damietta City went on a strike
Dakahlia – Talkha Sit-in After the arrest of nine of their colleagues, workers at Talkha Fertilizer continued their sit-in
Sohag Strike Employees at Sohag Teaching Hospital went on strike
Kafr El Sheikh – Desouk Protest vigil Workers at Desouk oilfield demanding installation in their jobs
Marsa Matrouh Protest vigil A number of lawyers organized a protest vigil in Marsa Matrouh
Cairo A union movement The Supreme Administrative Court acquitted a nurse and overturned a ruling of work dismissal
Beheira- Itay Al-Baroud Protest vigil Itay Al-Baroud’s lawyers in Beheria governorate organized a sit-in in front of a court in solidarity with their colleagues

 

The details of social protests can be summed up as follows:

Governorate Kind of protest Details of protest
Ismailia Gathering After bidding farewell to the Arab Championship, Ismaili Sporting Club fans gathered in front of the club to demand the departure of the club president
Giza Collective complaint Zamalek Sporting Club players lodged a complaint demanding the disbursement of late dues and the cancelation of the contract
Fayoum – Senouras Suicide A young man committed a suicide after passing through a financial distress
Dakahlia Suicide A young man committed a suicide after passing through a financial distress
Qalyubia – Al-Khanka Suicide A young man committed a suicide after passing through a financial distress
Menoufia Suicide A service worker at a school in Menoufia committed suicide after passing through a financial distress
Minya Suicide A young man committed suicide after the accumulation of his debts
Cairo – Al Maasara Suicide A plumber committed suicide after passing through a financial distress
Beni Suef – Al-Wasta Suicide A young man committed a suicide after passing through a financial distress
Cairo Field-based protest Confrontations between residents and security forces over demolishing the old houses in “Sayeda Aaesha” district
Cairo – Katameya Protest vigil A protest vigil by those registered for the “Sarayat al-Katameya” Project
Cairo Strike Activist Abd al-Rahman Tariq went on a hunger strike to protest his rotation (including him into new cases) for the third time
The Red Sea Protest vigil Stella Di Mare Resort’s residents organized a protest against the company owning the resort

 

The labor protesting sectors: 

  • The sector of those working in the     business Sector topped the labor protesting sectors list with 4 protests
  • Followed by: The Lawyers Sector with 3 protests, the Health Sector workers with 2 protests, and finally the Cleaning workers Sector with only one protest.

 

The social protesting sectors: 

The Residents and Residential neighborhoods Sector topped the social protesting sectors list with 11 protests, followed by the Sports Sector with only 2 protests.

 

The geographical distribution of labor protests:

Governorate Number of protests
Qena 2
Cairo 2
Kafr El Sheikh 1
Marsa Matrouh 1
the lake 1
Sohag 1
Dakahlia 1
Damietta 1

 

The geographical distribution of social protests:

Governorate Number of protests
Cairo 4
Ismailia 1
Minya 1
Giza 1
Fayoum 1
Bani Sweif 1
Dakahlia 1
Monufia 1
Qalyubia 1
Red Sea 1