CENTER FOR TRADE UNION & WORKERS SERVICES

( CTUWS )
Honored the French Republic’s Human Rights Prize

Urgent Call
The website of Al Yaum Al Sabei’ Newspaper announced from learned sources that Ismail Fahmy
Treasurer of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation “the official federation’ is nominated for the post
of the Minister of Manpower and Immigration to replace Mrs. Aisha Abdel Hady in stead of Dr,
Ahmed Hassan el Boare’i the expert of labour relations who was nominated for the same post
yesterday.
The Egyptian Trade Union Federation “ETUF”, according to the Newspaper, “held an extraordinary
meeting yesterday chaired by Hussein Megawer after the announcement of Dr. el Borae’i as a
nominee for this post. Board members of ETUF refused their full refusal of Dr. el Borae’i who is
known for supporting trade union plurality. The ETUF considered this attitude a threat to the
workers’ interests”. Then the ETUF sent a memorandum to General Ahmed Shafik head of the
interim government in which they nominated Ismail Fahmy for the Ministry of Manpower”.
The Center for Trade Union and Workers Services “CTUWS” was surprised by the insistence of the
government to follow the same infamous trend of the previous regime which combined the official
trade union federation with the Ministry of Manpower to the extent that both of them became two
administrations subject to the political authority. Consequently both of them lost their efficiency
and effectiveness. The CTUWS warns against the serious repercussions of defying the workers’ will
and legal right to enjoy their trade union freedoms.
The adoption by the new government of ETUF’s nominee indicates that the government adopts the
same position of ETUF which stands completely against trade union plurality. It is a denial of the
Egyptian workers right to choose their trade unions freely and a continuation of the restrictions
imposed on this right which caused congestion in the labour arena and resulted in the situation we
are undergoing at the present time.
Choosing Ismail Fahmy Treasurer of ETUF instead of Hussein Megawer will not change the
situation. It will not reduce the indignation of the Egyptian workers who suffered a lot from the
attachment of ETUF to the despotic regime for many years. The ETUF was one of the tools of
oppression used by the regime to deprive then from their rights, to monopolize their representation
and forge their votes. This action will not appease the youth who were victims of the inhuman
massacre of the second of February 2011 which was plotted in collaboration with the ETUF.
The CTUWS warns against this infamous choice which will increase congestion at the labour arena
and will block the way to the opportunities for dialogue and negotiations between the social parties
which cannot be attained without democratic representation of all the parties. The CTUWS calls
upon all the democratic and active powers of the society to address an urgent call to the Higher
Military Council to halt this governmental approach which lacks rationality and good choice.

CTUWS
February 22, 2011

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