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Egypt Macro Flash<br />
�EGYPT'S BIGGEST CER<strong>AMIC</strong>S MAKER TO SHUT FACTORIES<br />
Source: Ahram Online, July 12, <strong>2012</strong><br />
Mohamed Abul-Enein intends to liquidate his business interests in Egypt and close Cleopatra Ceramics, citing<br />
the 'stress' brought on by repeated labour disputes with his employees. Abul-Enein is the owner of<br />
Cleopatra Ceramics, a major player in the Middle East ceramics industry which has been hit by a wave of<br />
labour unrest following Mubarak's ouster in February 2011. Such protests, staged to win improvements in<br />
wages and conditions, are now causing Abul-Enein to close his factories and liquidate his investments.<br />
Company employees, however, accused the Cleopatra founder of spreading the news of imminent closures<br />
to make them fear for their jobs and rethink their ongoing protests. For his part, Ahmed Salah, the deputy<br />
head of the workers syndicate at the company's Suez factory, said employees would "welcome" Abul-Enein's<br />
decision if it would lead to the nationalisation of the firm's factories, located in Suez and 10th Ramadan City.<br />
In March, around 4,000 of the 6,000 workers employed at the Cleopatra factory in Ain Sokhna, Suez<br />
launched a strike to demand salary increases, bonus payments and a share of company profits. In May,<br />
factory operations were suspended for 12 days after company management stopped providing free<br />
transportation for workers. In response, around 4,000 employees staged a sit-in before the Suez governor's<br />
office.
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