Dr Essam SHARAF Acting Prime Minister Magles El Shaab St., Kasr El Aini St., Cairo, EGYPT primemin@idsc.gov.eg / pm@cabinet.gov.

eg Fax: +202-795-8048, 795-8016 (2 pages)

File Reference: PW/CK/pch Contact Name: Chidi.King@world-psi.org +33.450.40.1170

23 September 2011

Dear Dr Sharaf, I am writing on behalf of Public Services International, which represents 20 million women and men working in public services around the world, including in Egypt. We have been asked by the Egyptian Health Technologists Syndicate (EHTS), representing employees in medical institutions nationwide, to intervene on their behalf regarding the apparent refusal of the interim government to enter into dialogue concerning their legitimate demands. Those demands include increases in allowances, such as hazard allowances, shift allowances and transportation allowances, for all health technicians; the negotiation of a salary structure and job descriptions for health technologists; and the right for health technicians to be represented on the boards of directors of hospitals and other health facilities. It is our understanding that numerous approaches to the Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance and to your office have so far met with no response. A meeting with the Minister for Health and Population was unproductive. The EHTS have indicated to PSI their intention to stage a sit-in, if left with no alternative. PSI urges the interim government to avert the necessity for this type of action by responding positively to the requests by EHTS for constructive dialogue. The growing unrest among public sector workers, as well as workers in the private sector, is an indication of the interim governments widely perceived failure to honour the promises made to steer Egypt along the path of social justice, democracy and respect for workers rights. The interim government has given little indication that it intends to fulfil its undertaking to replace restrictive trade union legislation with a new law complying with ILO Conventions, including C87 on Freedom of Association and C98 on Collective bargaining, both of which Egypt has ratified.

Public Services International is a global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who deliver vital public services in 150 countries. PSI champions human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services. PSI works with the United Nations system and in partnership with labour, civil society and other organisations.

Instead, it has introduced laws which criminalise strikes and protest actions and has recently announced the prolongation of the state of emergency until April 2012, whilst expanding the application of that law to include the disruption of traffic, the blocking of roads, the broadcasting of rumours and the hindering of the functioning of the state. I trust that you will understand our concern and therefore PSI again urges your government to enter into dialogue with EHTS, and to calm growing tensions by demonstrating, through its actions, its intention to abide by international obligations, including the respect of trade union rights and fundamental liberties.

Yours sincerely

PETER WALDORFF General Secretary

Cc :

Dr Ahmed Gamal El-Din Moussa, Minister of Education, Fax+ 202-794-7502 Dr Hazem Abdel Aziz Mohamed El-Beblawy, Minister of Finance, email: mofinance@idsc1.gov.eg Dr Amr Mohamed Helmy, Minister for Health and Population, email: moh@idsc.gov.eg Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al-Boraei, Ministry of Manpower and Migration mwlaboy@idsc1.gov.eg Ministry of Interior affairs, email: Center@iscmi.gov.eg Permanent Mission of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Geneva Egyptian Health Technologists Syndicate (EHTS) Real Estate Tax Authority Union, Egypt PSI General Secretary P Waldorff PSI Regional Secretary for Africa and Arab countries D Dorkenoo PSI Sub-regional Secretary for Arab countries G Slaiby PSI Communications ITUC Trade Union Rights