Textile workers from Misr Spinning and Weaving Company, the biggest public sector textile company of Egypt located in Mahalla, have ended their 12-day strike and have returned to work after receiving an assurance from the Minister of Manpower that their demands would be met, reports Daily News Egypt.

 

Earlier this month, over 10,000 workers from the state-owned textile firm had gone on strike demanding immediate payment of the last installment of their yearly bonus, which was scheduled to be disbursed by December 2013, as well as implementation of the 1,200 Egyptian pounds (approx. US$ 172) minimum wage.

 

The textile workers also demanded the dismissal of the chairman of the firm Fouad Abdel-Alim Hassan, as well as the inclusion of labor representatives on the company’s administrative board.

 

The strike ended after the Ministry of Manpower and Labour signed an agreement with representatives of employees. The agreement promises restructuring of the company’s Board and also firing of the company’s CEO.

 

The workers of the textile firm had entered into an agreement with the Government of Egypt last year that stipulated a profit-sharing bonus payment to be given through installments and distributed equally amongst employees of the Misr Spinning and Weaving company, which included all the workers in the public textile sector and not only those of the El-Mahalla city.

 

Three of the installments were paid by the Government of Egypt, however, the last installment of the yearly bonus amounting to 157 million Egyptian pounds ($22.5 million) was not disbursed.

 

Textile workers have now given two-month time to the Government, and said they would again resort to strike if all their demands are not met by then.