In an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm, former Manpower Minister Kamal Abu Eita said that it is a joke that the government is trying to ban labor strikes.
Q: How do you see the role of the government regarding the problem of the closed factories?
A: The government does not care. There are 4,603 private sector factories closed, let alone the public sector factories that make losses on purpose.
Q: How do you see the next parliament?
A: There is a big split in the community, add to it the bad legislation that is not commensurate with Egypt after two revolutions.
Q: What do you make of the government and the labor union trying to ban strikes and protests?
A: It is a joke.
Q: How do you see the Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions?
A: It does not work for the interests of the workers.
Q: How about the community dialogue held by the prime minister?
A: A farce.
Q: And the Manpower and Immigration Ministry?
A: Powerless since the time of Sadat.
Q: What about the labor market in Egypt?
A: Catastrophic. Factories prefer to employ foreigners.
Q: How about public sector companies returning to the ownership of the state?
A: There are those who do not want the state to make use of its national resources.
Q: What do you think of the Unified Investment Law?
A: It gives investors the right to employ foreigners. And it gives them energy and natural resources for reduced costs.
Q: How is the ministry handling the problems of the Egyptian workers in Arab countries?
A: It is difficult for the ministry to work in areas of conflict like Libya, for example.
Q: What about the new labor law?
A: I do not see in it what we aspire for. Businessmen, the Federation of Industries and other parties withdrew from its community dialogue. Also, the representation of the workers is weak.
Q: What do you make of President Sisi?
A: God help him achieve the demands of the revolution.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
