Workers at Nile Linen Group in Alexandria’s free zone ended their strike and resumed work on Monday after reaching an agreement with management on Sunday. The deal includes compensation for the mother whose infant daughter died after she was denied urgent leave, according to two workers who spoke with Al Manassa.
The strike began on Wednesday after the death of a baby girl in the arms of her mother, a factory worker, who had been prevented from taking her sick child to the hospital. Workers said the mother was detained for three hours inside the factory, prompting demands for accountability.
On the second day of protests, security forces and Central Security trucks surrounded the strikers. Two workers were reportedly beaten and held in a police vehicle before being released under pressure from fellow workers. Management then suspended work on Saturday and Sunday, hoping to prevent any escalation.
Nile Linen Group statement on workers' demands, Sept. 14, 2025“We insisted on accountability, especially for what happened to our colleague,” a worker told Almanassa.
On Saturday, a meeting was held at the factory headquarters between union representatives, 15 workers, and a delegation from the Alexandria labor directorate led by Deputy Director Mohamed Kamal. The bereaved mother, Doaa Mohamed, and her father attended. Workers presented their demands, which were relayed to management and accepted in full, according to a company statement seen by Al Manassa.
The agreement includes holding a swift investigation into the baby’s death and payment of a satisfactory compensation package to Doaa Mohamed.
The company further committed to implementing the national minimum wage, paying a monthly cost-of-living allowance (1,000–2,000 Egyptian pounds), and ensuring full salary is paid by the 5th of each month, including bonuses and overtime.
With regard to safety at work, the company pledged to transport injured workers by ambulance to the nearest public hospital and cover the cost, form a health and safety committee to oversee first aid supplies and protective equipment, and provide proper rest and dining areas for workers. The labor law section on women’s employment will also be publicly posted.
The agreement also commits to 15 days annual leave and greater flexibility when dealing with urgent leave requests, as well as adherence to legal provisions on paternity and study leave.
In a tearful testimony to Al Manassa, Doaa Mohamed recalled the events leading to her daughter’s death. “I had just returned from three months of maternity leave 10 days earlier. My daughter had a severe stomach infection. I couldn’t get through to anyone on the phone to ask for leave, so I came to work at 7 am. I had missed the day before because she was in the hospital. If you miss two days without permission, they deduct the 2,000 pound cost-of-living allowance. We needed every pound.”
She said her supervisor denied her request for leave, even after seeing the sick infant in her arms. For three hours, she pleaded to be let out, but security refused without formal approval. Eventually, an HR employee allowed her to leave despite the supervisor’s objection.
“As soon as I stepped out of the factory gates, she died in my arms,” she said.
