Employees at railway yards have blocked the rail tracks in five governorates across Egypt, demanding better incentives and permanent contracts.

The employees blocked the tracks in Cairo, Ismailiya, Assiut, Sohag and Aswan.

The National Authority of Railways' official spokesperson, Mohamed Hegazy, said that many of the employees are protesting because they think that the Ministry of Transportation has refused to pay them bonuses. He insisted, however, that Minister Atef Abdel Hameed had issued orders yesterday for these bonuses to be paid and the employees will receive them at the beginning of next month in three instalments.

Hegazy added that several families in Alexandria began a protest in the Abu Keir railway line at 7:55am today, although it is not yet clear the reason behind the protest.

The Zaqaziq railway yard began their protest at 8:20am along the Benha/Ismaliya line, but it ended at 10:40, according to Hegazy.

In the Ismailiya railway yards, employees began protesting along the same line at 9:45am, it only lasted half an hour. The Sohag railway yard employees began their protest on the Cairo/Aswan line and ended their protest at 11:05.

Hegazy added that protests held by workers in the Cairo and Assiut railway yards began early in the morning and are continuing until now.