Workers at Jade Textile Egypt continued a strike for a second day on Monday after the company halted bus services used to transport employees to the factory, a move workers described as an attempt to pressure them into ending the protest
Despite the transport suspension, workers said they traveled to the factory in taxis at their own expense. Police forces, backed by Central Security vehicles, were stationed at the gates of the company’s plant in 10th of Ramadan City, according to three workers who spoke to Al Manassa.
The strike began on Sunday, when around 6,000 workers at the 10th of Ramadan factory — along with thousands more at Jade Textile facilities in Ismailia — walked out to protest what they described as an insufficient annual wage increase. The sportswear manufacturer, owned by Turkey’s Yeşim Group, approved an average raise of about 800 Egyptian pounds, while workers say their monthly wages do not exceed 6,500 pounds.
Workers are demanding that the monthly pay be raised to at least 10,000 pounds.
One worker, who asked that their name not be published, told Al Manassa they were informed on Sunday by the transportation official that the bus service would be suspended on Monday and that anyone who came would not be allowed into the factory. “But thousands of us came in taxis,” the worker said, adding that company security tried to prevent them from entering but, as more workers arrived, they opened the gates.
Videos reviewed by Al Manassa showed workers gathered outside the factory gates chanting, “Open the gate, we’re not leaving.” After entering the premises, they continued chanting slogans demanding workers’ rights and calling for the departure of Human Resources Director Saleh Nasr, whom they accuse of opposing their demands.
Another worker said security and human resources officials attempted to compel employees to sign written declarations stating they wished to work and disavowing Sunday’s strike. Workers refused, tore up the forms, and chanted against signing them, he said.
Workers were asked to sign a declaration disavowing the strike and stating they wanted to workA third worker said employees at the company’s Ismailia facilities also continued their strike, rejecting management efforts to end the protest, including what workers described as threats of dismissal and of reporting them to National Security. The workers requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Workers who spoke to Al Manassa on Sunday had complained about the wide wage gap between them and the company’s workers in Turkey. One worker said, “We asked for less than our rights. Give us even half the wages of the company’s workers in Turkey. Aren’t they our colleagues, and aren’t we workers in one company?”
Late last year, Turkey raised the minimum wage by 27% to $655.
Alaa Ezz, secretary-general of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations, said in press statements that differences in labor costs prompted many Turkish factories to move production lines to the Egyptian market, given the minimum wage in Turkey is $800 compared with about $180 in Egypt, a competitive advantage attractive to investments.
Jade Textile Egypt began manufacturing in Egypt in 2008 in Borg El Arab City. It opened its 10th of Ramadan factory in 2009, added another Borg El Arab factory in 2018, and that same year launched its Ismailia facility before establishing two additional plants in Ismailia.
The group is a key supplier for the brands Nike, Under Armour, Tommy Hilfiger, and Lacoste, and manufactures all types of sportswear, including T-shirts, pants, hoodies, and shorts. The 10th of Ramadan Jade Textile plant is the largest in terms of production capacity.
