Egyptian Spinning and Weaving companies are in dire need of prompt government support, according to Said El-Gohary, president of the Spinning and Weaving Syndicate.
El-Gohary called on the interim government to undertake resolute measures to save the industry’s workers, who currently find themselves at risk due to the industry’s underperformance. Such measures include guaranteeing the availability of cotton raw materials, capital injections as well as financial and organisational restructuring of the Spinning and Weaving companies.
The sparse supply of raw materials, as well as losing foreign market shares, is driving the industry into a dark tunnel, explained El-Gohary. Private sector Spinning and Weaving plants in Shobra El Kheima have already been shut down after buckling under the severe pressure of current events and the subsequent impact on the economy.
According to El-Gohary, there are currently three Spinning and Weaving companies (Shebin El-Kom for Spinning, Misr El-Monofeya for Spinning and Weaving and Trasen Spinning and Weaving in Suez) which are facing labour unrest due to the delay in disbursing salaries.
Misr El-Monofeya Company workers, who were getting their wages from the Ministry of Manpower’s emergency fund, have not received their last month's salaries.
El-Gohary also highlighted the necessity of bolstering cotton productivity locally, which has declined from 11 to 2.5 million quintals, and called for the cultivation of medium and short staple cotton.
On the other hand, Holding Company for Cotton, Spinning and Weaving and Garments reports that the results are better than was expected for 2009-2010 following debt settlements.
The sector's largest employer accrued a loss of LE0.5 billion, down from LE2.3 billion.
Boasting a headcount of 65,000 employees and an annual payroll of LE1.25m, the Holding Company for Cotton, Spinning and Weaving and Garments is one of the biggest institutions in the public enterprise sector, employing 20 per cent of the sector’s human capital.
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