The International Labor Organization (ILO) has blacklisted Egypt again for violations of workers’ freedom standards and failing to protect independent labour unions. The blacklist lists 25 countries including Algeria, Libya, Sudan and Mauritania. Egypt was on the ILO’s blacklist between 2008 and 2010, which was lifted in June 2011. The removal came after the draft law of Trade Union Liberties was finalized in 2011. Having experienced a political and economic turmoil since 2011, the new law hasn’t passed, leaving Egypt with the outdated Trade Union Law that doesn’t comply with the new conventions. An ILO delegation had warned Egypt during its visit in May and issued a statement pertaining to the 2011 Trade Union draft law that hasn’t been passed into law yet. The new law should protect the rights of independent unions in line with the new labor conventions. The ILO cited the arrests of workers in peaceful sit-ins and protests, such as Alexandria shipyard workers who stood trial over their peaceful protests and Torah cement workers who are currently serving a prison sentence. The Egyptian constitution guarantees workers the right to strike even if its results in the disruption of work. Egyptian…
