CAIRO - Workers from a textile factory based in the Delta city of Tanta, who have recently ended a five-week strike outside the Parliament, Monday protested outside the Egyptian Trade Union Federation in downtown Cairo over perceived failure of the Government to fulfil its pledges. The protesters from Amonsito Textile factory criticised Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel Hadi and officials at the State-owned Banque Misr for paying them less money than the amount agreed upon in the deal approved in May. "Abdel Hadi and Banque Misr have failed to keep their pledge to resolve an ongoing dispute over retirement packages," said Khaled Talaat, one of the protesting workers. Talaat added that Minister Abdel Hadi had calmed workers by saying that Banque Misr had approved the payment of LE86 million for their early retirement payments. "The bank insists on paying only LE50 million, in violation of the deal," Talaat said. Workers said they would continue their strike until the problem was resolved, threatening to transfer their strike to the Parliament. Amonsito is a public-turned-private company whose new owner, Syrian businessman Adel Agha, escaped the country, leaving it bogged down with debts and financial problems. Strikes by Egyptian workers have become more commonplace over recent years, and their action has often drawn governmental concessions.
