{"id":8839,"date":"2019-06-03T10:01:23","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T10:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info?p=8839"},"modified":"2020-01-22T13:32:09","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T13:32:09","slug":"labor-and-social-protest-index-during-may-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/?p=8839&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Labor and Social Protest Index during May 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Program of Freedom of Expression for Labor and Social Movements <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Before going into detail about the labor and social protests took place during the month of May, we have to shed light on two major incidents: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The first incident: “worker in al-Basateen district commits suicide”<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At first glance, it may seem a minor incident we frequently hear on the news “A worker in al-Basateen district commits suicide”. But when we go into detail and consider the context surrounding the incident, we shall learn that the suicide of Mohamed A. H. S. is not just a passing incident; it is the first case monitored by the Freedom of Expression for Labor and Social Movements program when a worker committed suicide by hanging himself in a machine in the factory where he works at the 10<\/span><\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span> of Ramadan region in Sharqiya governorate; for passing through financial distress.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As you can imagine, this is the situation of regular workers, let alone the non-regular or unemployed workers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And, more importantly, why did Mohamed prefer to willingly kill himself while he had the ability to practice other forms of mass and organized protests? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The second incident: protests organized by first-grade secondary students<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the siege and repression, high school students took to the street organizing various forms of protests that are scattered across the country’s several provinces. The protests are to denounce the Ministry of Education’s failure to implement the new electronic education system known as “the tablet system”, which the Minister of Education introduced it as the best cure for the “Thanawyia Amma” malfunction and the most effective tool to eliminate private tutoring. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The program of Freedom of Expression for Labor and Social Movements monitored 49 protests during the month of May, including 9 labor and professional protests and 40 social protests, summarized as follows:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

First: Labor and Professional Protests:<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The program has monitored 9 labor and professional protests, distributed as follows:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Strike to work: 3 cases<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Protests or vigils: 2 cases<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Complaints and\/or petitions filed: 3 cases<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Sit-ins: 1 case<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Suicide\/ attempted suicide: 1 case<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The details of such protests go as follows:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Strike to work:<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Workers and employees used striking to work (work stoppage) as a method to protest 3 times this month, as follows;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Printing presses workers at Cairo’s General Authority for Books went on a strike on 25 May and refrained from doing their overtime work, in protest against the verbal insult made by the president of the General Authority for Books using obscene words, when they demanded an increase in their salaries. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      2. \n

        Workers at Alexandria’s Zahran Group Co. entered a general strike to work, on 21 May, due to the nonpayment of incentives and Eid bonus. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      3. \n

        Thousands of morning shift workers of Ghazal al-Mahalla Company, a subsidiary of the Textile Industries Holding Co in Gharbia governorate, entered an open labor strike and sit-in inside the company’s factories, in protest against the officials disregarding the payment of their monthly wages and the month-and a half- incentive coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Vigils:<\/span><\/span><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          The program has monitored two vigils organized by workers during May; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n

            Employees of Top Business Group at Portland Cement Factory in Bani Mazar, south of Minya governorate, organized on 27 May a vigil inside the factory’s administrative building, to protest the fact that they haven\u2019t received any annual increases on their basic salaries since 2015. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          2. \n

            Workers at Developed Refrigeration & Air Condition Industries Equipment Co. at the 10th of Ramadan City (Sharqiya governorate) staged a vigil<\/span><\/span><\/span> in front of the company’s headquarters on the first of May. The protest was because of the company’s refusal to let workers enter the company to exercise their daily work, after they refused to be transferred to another company under the same management.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              \n
            1. \n

              Petition or Complaint:<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              During the month of May, labor and professional movement witnessed two cases where workers filed complaints as one of peaceful protest’s methods, as follows; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \n

                On May 14, a number of workers at Ceramic El Jawhara Company submitted a memorandum to the Manpower Directorate in Sadat City, Monofiya governorate, after they were dismissed for allegedly inciting strikes and disrupting work.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

              2. \n

                On May 8, a large number of employees at Al Maamoura Company for Construction and Tourist Development in Aswan (a holding company) filed a complaint to the deputy of Aswan’s Nasr Nubia parliamentary circle, asking him to intervene to pay their cash allowance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  \n
                1. \n

                  Sit-in<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  The program monitored only one sit-in that was held as one of the labor protests’ methods during the month of May, as follows; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. \n

                    Workers at Faiyum Sugar Works Company announced, on 25 May, they staged a sit-in inside the factory in protest against the ruled on the disbursement of profits and incentives as well as the arbitrary practices against workers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      \n
                    1. \n

                      Suicide\/Attempted Suicide:<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      For the first time, the program of Freedom of Expression for Labor and Social Movements monitored in May a case of suicide due to poor economic conditions among workers, as;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. \n

                        Mohamed A. H. S, a worker lives at al-Basateen district in Cairo, hanged himself in the factory where he works in 10th of Ramadan city, Al-Sharqia governorate<\/span><\/span><\/span> after going through a financial crisis.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        Second: Social Protests:<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                        The program monitored 40 social protests during the month, detailed in the following chart:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                        \"\"<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        1. \n

                          Suicide\/attempted suicide occupied the first place among the social protests’ methods with 12 cases<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        2. \n

                          Protest rallies\/ vigils came second in social protests organized during the month with 9 cases (9 vigils) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        3. \n

                          Gathering came in the third place with 8 cases <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        4. \n

                          Protesting came fourth with 5 cases <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        5. \n

                          Submitting complaints or petitions came fifth with 3 cases <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        6. \n

                          Sit-ins, threatening to protest and marches came in the sixth place with one case each<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          1) Suicide and attempted suicide:<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                          12 cases of suicide and attempted suicide took place during February 2019 leading it to be at the forefront of social protests’ methods. All of these cases were to protest against the deteriorating economic and social conditions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                          The details of these cases are outlined as follows:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                            \n
                          1. \n
                              \n
                            • \n

                              A low ranking police officer “R.T”, 37, who lives in Matai district in Minya governorate, committed a suicide on 31 May, after going through a financial crisis because he was suspended from work for three months. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              Galal A., a furnace worker, hanged himself to death in his home at Tatai village, Al-Santah center in Gharbia governorate, on May 29, because of financial constraints. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              On 29 May, Yasser A. S., a 30-year-old blacksmith, committed suicide by hanging himself in his house at El-Ezba El-Bahria in Helwan region, due to financial difficulties and accumulated debts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              On 27 May, L.M.M. A, 30, unemployed, hanged himself to death in his house’s entrance at Al-Siyouf area, east of Alexandria, after he had been in a bad psychological state due to financial difficulties.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              Nadia, 25, committed suicide on May 19 by throwing herself off the balcony of her home in Alexandria, after a quarrel she had with her husband who refused to buy her new clothes for the Eid (feast) a few days after they got married. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              Ali, a 72-year-old psychiatrist, died in Alexandria on May 18 by throwing himself off the balcony of his apartment, due to the deterioration of his psychological and financial state after suffering from heart and aging-associated diseases. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              On 17 May, M. A., 29, hanged himself at Beit Dawud village, Gerga Center, Sohag, after passing through a psychological crisis for not being able to find a job.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              On 11 May, worker M. M., 27, committed suicide by hanging himself in his bedroom in Qalyub city, Qalubiya governorate, because he had been in a bad psychological state after he lost his job and became unable to propose to his beloved woman. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              On 14 May, A. K., 42, worker, killed himself inside his apartment in Al Balina Center, south of Sohag,<\/span><\/span><\/span> by cutting off his hand<\/span><\/span><\/span> to escape his debts after falling victim to fraud. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              M. A., 35, hanged himself in his place of residence at Awayed region in Alexandria, on 6 May, after he had been in a bad psychological state due to financial difficulties.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              Said, 31, a grocery store owner and resident of<\/span><\/span><\/span> Abu Zaabal village at the Khanka Center, committed suicide after shooting himself, due to financial constraints and the accumulation of debts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                            • \n

                              On 15 May, M. A., a worker at <\/span><\/span><\/span>a gas station, <\/span><\/span><\/span>hanged himself to death because he had been in a bad psychological state following a financial crisis.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              2) Vigils: <\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                              The program monitored 9 vigils took place during the month of May, placing vigil in the second ranking of social protests: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                \n
                              1. \n
                                  \n
                                • \n

                                  On 31 May, the residents of El Salam City in Suez governorate organized an evening vigil in front of the Bar Association in El-Galaa Street<\/span><\/span><\/span> demand an end to the water and electricity shortages and the poor road conditions in the city.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  On 21 May, a number of first-grade high school students in front of Borg Al-Aaela school complex in Dekheila district of Al-Ajami Educational Administration in Alexandria, to protest against the new tablet-based (electronic) exams system, calling for reverting the examinations into paper exams.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  Students of the first year of secondary school in Suez organized a protest in front of the Governorate’s General Bureau on May 21, after students complained they could not access the electronic exam platform of the new tablet-based system.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  On 21 May, dozens of first-year high school students in Fayoum held a protest in front of the Directorate of Education<\/span><\/span><\/span> protesting against the continuation of the new electronic exam system “tablet”. In response, the police forces intervened to disperse the vigil which lasted for several minutes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  First-year high school students organized a protest rally<\/span><\/span><\/span> in front of the General Directorate of Menoufia governorate in Shebin El Koum on 21 May after they failed to access the electronic exam platform for the third day in a row in order to take the second foreign language test.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  Dozens of students in the first grade secondary school in Al-Kharga city, the New Valley governorate, held a protest in front of the Directorate General of Education Directorate on May 21, to express their deep dissatisfaction with the electronic exam system.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  On 21 May, a number of first-grade high school students in Al-Fashn city organized a protest in front of Al-Fashn Educational Administration in South Beni Suef<\/span><\/span><\/span>, to <\/span><\/span><\/span>protest against the new examination system for its malfunction which made them unable to take their exams. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  A number of first-grade high school students, also on 21 May, held some protest vigils at the Directorate of Education in Sohag following their the French language exam. They demanded to cancel the tablet-based system and return to the paper exams system. They also called for the dismissal of the Minister of Education. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                                • \n

                                  On 7 May, dozens of people residing in the churches area of Bullin village at Kafr El-Dawar city in Beheira governorate organized a vigil in front of the governorate’s General Bureau, to protest breaks in the drinking-water supply. The governor, as a result, promised them to solve the problem. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                  3) Gatherings<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                  Gathering came third in the social protests with 8 cases took place this month as follows;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  1. \n