Cairo water workers renew bonus protests as National Security urges calm

Workers at the Cairo Drinking Water and Wastewater Company organized demonstrations over the past three days at several main stations to demand the inclusion of delayed bonuses unpaid since 2016. The Ministry of Interior’s National Security Sector (NSS) summoned five protesting workers on Tuesday evening, three participating workers told Al Manassa.

The protests are a response to Holding Company for Water and Wastewater Chairman Mostafa El-Sheemy ignoring the workers’ demands, primarily the inclusion of bonuses, one protesting worker said. The worker noted their anger was fueled by a lack of tangible results from a committee formed last June by Housing Minister Randa El-Menshawy to study the legal, administrative, and financial aspects of the crisis.

The worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that employees are now convinced the committee and the company's promises were stalling tactics meant to quiet earlier protests. Given the administration’s lack of genuine intent to resolve the crisis, workers renewed their protests.

Including the bonuses remains the top priority because it would increase net salaries by 40–60%, another worker told Al Manassa. He said workers were pinning great hopes on the payout to cope with the rising cost of living, and stressed their determination to continue protesting until the administration met their demands.

During a wave of protests late last year, Cairo water workers told Al Manassa about hardship that forced most of them to rely on credit cards for basic family needs. Bank debts accumulated for many, reaching tens of thousands of pounds, forcing them to borrow from relatives until going into debt became a recurring monthly habit.

Regarding the board of directors’ reaction, the second worker, who also requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said company officials threatened them last week. They were warned of disciplinary investigations and referrals to the NSS if they participated in the protests announced on private worker groups.

A third worker said five colleagues were summoned Tuesday evening via individual phone calls to NSS headquarters in Abbasiya, before being released about three hours later. The worker added that their colleagues reported the interrogating officer asked them to calm down and refrain from organizing protests in the coming period.

In July, workers at seven stations affiliated with the Cairo Drinking Water and Wastewater Company organized protests and marches to demand permanent contracts and the inclusion of delayed bonuses. Bill collectors in four branches also went on a payment-collection strike.

The year 2025 witnessed the peak of the company’s worker protests. Demonstrations spanned dozens of sites, lasted for about 15 days, and expanded to several governorates. Protesters demanded the inclusion of the 2016 delayed bonuses, the disbursement of tax refunds, increased allowances, and permanent contracts for temporary workers.