Legal reforms: In December 2012, the new Constitution entered into force. While it recognises the right to freedom of association (Article 52), it severely restricts the extent to which unions are free to organise their structures by providing that only one union may be allowed per profession (Article 53).

Discrimination against trade union members: On 16 September 2012, Rashad Shabaan and Aly Hassan Kenawy were dismissed after participating in a sit-in when Al-Ameriya Spinning and Weaving Company did not pay their wages. The court asked the company to reinstate them and to pay their wages.

Arrest and detention of trade unionists: On 24 September 2012, seven nurses employed at Zagazig University Hospital were arrested for having called a strike after wage negotiations with the director of the hospital failed. Four nurses were released and the other three remained in jail for 4 days under investigation: Ashraf Abdel Monem, Mohamed el Sayed and Ayman Almaz.

Interference in demonstrations: Security forces arrested 14 taxi drivers who demonstrated in front of the General Administration of Traffic at Salah Salim Street calling for lower taxes and fines imposed on taxi drivers on 3 October 2012. Ten of them were released on the same day and the other four were released on bail the next day.

Employers disrespect collective agreements: Nile Spinning and Weaving Company refused to pay wage increases that had been agreed in a collective agreement in July 2012. 34 of the workers who went on strike against this violation were dismissed.

Interference by employers: Ataef Mohamed, President of the Independent Regional Federation of the Independent Unions in South Egypt and responsible for CTUWS Office in Naji' Hamady, was transferred to a different workplace, 60 kilometers away from his house without any justification on 11 November 2012.

Interference in trade union premises: The chief detective of the Qena company entered the offices of the Independent Union of the Railway Workers by force and threatened to dismiss members of the executive board if they took strike action.

Interference in collective bargaining: The worker's spokesperson in ABB Arab Contractors Electrical Industries was forced to resign when he tried to conduct negotiations between the company and workers regarding mass dismissals on 15 January 2013.

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