U.S. Copts Association

By  Mohamed Azouz   

Well-informed sources said that there is an international disgruntlement from the International Labor Organization (ILO) over what it called ‘ignorance’ of the Egyptian government - represented in the Ministry of Manpower - to follow ILO remarks with regard to violations against workers and the government’s intervention in their affairs.

Speaking to al-Masry al-Youm, the sources said economic penalties may be imposed on Egypt next year if it did not follow the ILO remarks during the organization’s 97th session, which placed Egypt in the 7th rank among countries violating the agreement of union freedoms and rights.

Egypt’s entire file is expected to be referred to the Security Council or the World Trade Organization (WTO) during the ILO next general conference, which will be held in Geneva in June.

This escalating procedure aims to impose penalties on Egypt to force it to enforce the international agreements it had previously signed, especially agreement No. 87 of 1948.

ILO sent a letter to the Ministry of Manpower to the effect that it will dispatch a technical aid mission to Egypt in the first half of 2009 to support the application of the international agreements. Minister of Manpower Aisha Abdel Hadi ‘ignored’ the letter, the sources added.