{"id":17231,"date":"2025-11-15T11:57:03","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T09:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=17231"},"modified":"2026-10-24T15:03:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T13:03:19","slug":"labor-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/labor-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Deadly Factory Fires Expose Egypt\u2019s Workplace Safety Failures"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span>13 people were killed<\/span><\/a>, including three civil protection personnel, and more than 30 others were injured, in a massive fire that broke out at the El-Bishbishi spinning and weaving factory in the city of Mahalla El-Kubra in the early hours of Friday 26 September; the fire began, according to what the investigations later revealed, because of an electrical short circuit, which led to the explosion of a boiler on the upper floor, causing parts of the building to collapse and the flames to spread rapidly. <\/span><\/p>\n

The incident <\/span>reignited<\/span><\/a> considerable debate over the absence of safety measures in commercial establishments, measures whose main purpose is to provide urgent protection for workers in emergencies and reduce risks to a minimum, especially as it comes less than two months after a fire at a restaurant in Sohag Governorate that caused the <\/span>death<\/span><\/a> of at least five people, including children, and injured dozens, while investigations later revealed negligence in handling the safety measures that were supposed to be applied, and the Public Prosecution issued a <\/span>decision<\/span><\/a> to imprison the restaurant owner. <\/span><\/p>\n

Both incidents exposed the fragility of compliance with occupational safety standards inside industrial and commercial establishments, starting with the absence of periodic maintenance of devices and equipment, through the lack of sufficient emergency exits and usable fire extinguishers, and ending with weak official oversight and laxity in enforcing the laws. Moreover, these recurring disasters in the work environment raise central questions about the effectiveness of Egyptian laws, such as the Labour Law and the executive decisions related to occupational safety, and about the extent of the state’s ability to protect the lives of workers and citizens in an industrial and commercial environment in which violations against life are tragically repeated.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nOver the past five years, data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) <\/span>documented<\/span><\/a> more than 200,000 fire incidents nationwide, <\/span>the largest share<\/span><\/a> of which occurred in commercial establishments, leaving hundreds dead and injured, in addition to direct and indirect economic losses amounting to tens of billions. Although most of these incidents <\/span>can<\/span><\/a> be traced back to clear causes that could have been avoided, weak oversight, leniency in law enforcement and the accumulation of violations inside commercial establishments were among the most prominent reasons for the recurrence of fires, especially inside commercial establishments.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same data <\/span>indicate<\/span><\/a> that the total number of work injury cases in Egypt was 8,317 during 2023, with a large share of these injuries in the private sector, at more than 50% of total cases; the incidents include work injuries at manufacturing sites, in addition to external accidents such as transport and ferry accidents that cause human losses.<\/span><\/p>\n

The data also reflect fluctuation in the total number of occupational accidents, which include commercial and industrial establishments: they reached about 11,000 injuries in 2020 and 10,000 injuries in 2023, with a fatality rate of 10% of workers in the construction sector alone, and in 2024 the number rose to about 12,000 injuries, with a clear concentration on fires and collapses.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for fire incidents, they recorded a clear rise in recent years. The total number of fires in Egypt between 2010 and 2020 reached about 438,000 incidents, with an annual average for the period 2020\u20132025 of nearly 46,000 incidents per year. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>The spectre of heat stress: when earning a living in Egypt becomes a battle for life<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Fires
<\/p>\n

Source: Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics data<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The current year, 2025, has seen a recurrence of fire incidents inside establishments in several governorates. In July, the <\/span>fire<\/span><\/a> at the Ramses telephone exchange in Cairo recorded the deaths of 4 people and the injury of 27 others as a result of neglected electrical maintenance, which also led to internet services being cut off across wide areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other industrial and commercial <\/span>areas<\/span><\/a> also witnessed multiple fires in sponge factories in the city of Damietta, <\/span>chemical factories<\/span><\/a> in the city of Badr, and malls in Minya and Ceramica October, in addition to <\/span>fires<\/span><\/a> at the 10th of Ramadan power stations; these incidents resulted in specific injuries and major material losses, although no deaths were recorded in most of them. Fires were also recorded at farms and facilities in Tanta, Fayoum and Mansoura, causing material damage without confirmed human deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the past year, a number of accidents befell workers, whether inside or outside workplaces, as a result of the failure to apply occupational safety and health standards. On 25 February 2024, a tragic <\/span>accident<\/span><\/a> resulted in the drowning of 10 workers and the injury of 5 others, who were on their way to work in the morning at the Nahdet Misr project at the Dabaiya water station in the New Delta project, and had boarded a wooden ferry on the eastern bank of the Nile in the Ezbet Rabie area of the village of Nikla, north of Giza.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 21 May 2024, an <\/span>accident <\/b><\/a>occurred that resulted in the deaths of 16 girls, after they fell from the top of a car ferry crossing between the two banks of the Rayah El-Beheiry canal in the Abu Ghaleb area of Monshaat El-Qanater. The girls were on their way, together with others, to their workplace at a fruit export yard when the accident occurred. On 20 December 2024, Tala district in Menoufia Governorate witnessed the <\/span>deaths of 6<\/b><\/a> workers in a sewage well. The investigation found that when one of the workers went down into the well to clean it, he suffered severe suffocation, and 5 of his colleagues went down one after another, but they all suffocated and breathed their last as a result of inhaling the toxic gases inside the well.<\/span><\/p>\n

A responsible source at the Sanitation Project Company in Menoufia also suggested that one of the workers went down into the sewage well at the Tala village station and was slow to come out, which prompted 5 of his colleagues to go down one after another to look for him, but they were suffocated by the gases inside the well, resulting in the deaths of 6 and the injury of 2 others.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Privatising health: an investor wins, a government profits and citizens are out of the game<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n


\nDo establishments apply occupational safety standards? <\/b><\/h1>\n

Occupational safety and health standards in Egypt <\/span>require<\/span><\/a> establishments to provide a safe working environment, including providing safe work equipment and maintaining it, securing the transport and storage of goods in a way that does not pose a danger, providing training and supervision for workers, as well as providing appropriate personal protective equipment and first-aid means. <\/span><\/p>\n

For his part, Shaaban Khalifa, head of the Private Sector Workers’ Union, tells Zawia3 that the new Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 devoted an entire chapter to occupational health and safety and securing the work environment, extending from Article 242 to Article 264, that is, about 22 articles, all of which aim to oblige establishments and their branches to provide occupational safety and health measures and to maintain a safe working environment.<\/p>\n

Khalifa points out that the law focuses on the need for establishments to take all the preventive measures that limit indirect risks, which may worsen if means of rescue, first aid, cleanliness, tidiness and organisation are not available inside workplaces, explaining that the law guarantees that workers obtain the necessary health certificates, particularly in places where food and beverages are prepared and handled, to ensure that they are free of infectious diseases.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In his conversation with us, the head of the Private Sector Workers’ Union notes that the law requires employers to take all the necessary precautions and requirements to prevent fire hazards, as determined by the competent authorities in the Ministry of Interior, including providing means of firefighting and other safety equipment, and organising periodic inspections.<\/span><\/p>\n

Khalifa explains that Article 252 of the law obliges establishments to secure workplaces, particularly narrow and enclosed ones, to ensure control over all the hazards arising from work. He adds that the Ministry of Labour is responsible for inspecting the application of occupational health and safety measures and for ensuring that companies comply with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

He adds that the firefighting licence falls under the Civil Defence at the Ministry of Interior, as it is the body entrusted with issuing licences and with the supervision, by officers or competent committees, of compliance with safety standards, including firefighting equipment and work boilers, stressing that everything related to fire protection and the application of safety requirements inside establishments falls within the responsibility of the Civil Defence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new Labour <\/span>Law<\/span><\/a> focuses on providing a safe working environment by imposing mandatory standards and procedures on all establishments. The law also stresses the obligation of establishments to provide all occupational safety and health measures, in a way that ensures protection from physical, engineering, chemical and biological risks, as well as indirect risks. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the law obliges establishments to conduct a comprehensive assessment of potential risks, whether industrial or natural, and to prepare clear emergency plans for dealing with any accident. These plans include mechanisms for protecting the establishment, the workers and those who visit it, and for acting quickly to reduce the loss of life and property when accidents occur. <\/span><\/p>\n

The law stipulates the formation of a specialised body known as the “Occupational Safety and Health and Work Environment Security Inspection Authority”, comprising experts in the fields of medicine, engineering, pharmacy, science and the environment. This body is responsible for following up on the implementation of the safety provisions and ensuring that establishments comply with the legal standards, in addition to making the necessary recommendations to avoid risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the most prominent provisions of the law is providing the necessary training for workers on occupational safety and health procedures, while equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills to deal with potential risks inside the work environment. This provision aims to create a sustainable safety culture among workers and to reduce accidents resulting from negligence or lack of experience. The law also obliges establishments to notify the competent administrative authority of any serious accident or work injury, while documenting the measures taken to prevent its recurrence. This provision allows oversight bodies to assess the effectiveness of safety standards and to take rapid corrective action when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

What are the most important safety measures? <\/b><\/h1>\n

Dr Tamer Sharaky, a consultant in occupational security and safety<\/span>, explains to Zawia3 that occupational safety and health requirements in Egypt fall within a broad legal and regulatory framework that includes labour laws, civil protection laws and the local regulations of each governorate, stressing that these requirements are not merely formal procedures but represent a minimum of legal commitment to preserve lives and property, especially in high-density or high-risk establishments. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sharaky adds that any establishment, whether a restaurant, a company, a shop or a mall, must comply with the approved safety basics, which include fire control by obtaining Civil Defence permits and reviewing them periodically, and providing a sufficient number of portable fire extinguishers of various types and maintaining them regularly; emergency exits must also be clearly marked and equipped with emergency lighting that works automatically when the power is cut, while ensuring that they are always free of any obstructions, in addition to installing an automatic fire alarm system that includes smoke and heat detectors and is clearly audible throughout the establishment, along with putting in place an approved emergency evacuation plan and training all workers on it periodically.<\/span><\/p>\n

In his conversation with us, the occupational safety expert also stresses that structural and environmental safety is an integral part of the basic requirements; this includes providing sufficient natural or artificial ventilation, especially in places where fumes or gases may accumulate, as well as providing appropriate lighting for work, keeping the workplace clean and safely disposing of waste and residues, along with electrical safety, which requires periodic inspection of all electrical connections and panels, and the installation of protective circuit breakers and proper earthing of devices to ensure the protection of workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

Which sectors are the most dangerous? <\/b><\/h1>\n

Sharaky points out that restaurants and food shops need a special focus on kitchen hazards and on dealing with the public, as this requires installing high-efficiency chimneys and smoke extractors equipped with grease filters, in addition to installing automatic extinguishing systems, such as wet extinguishing systems or gas systems, directly above the cooking appliances, with gas shut-off valves placed where they can easily be reached in an emergency. <\/span><\/p>\n

He also stresses the importance of using non-slip flooring in the preparation, cooking and washing areas, with good water drainage, and of complying with the standards of the Egyptian Food Safety Authority regarding the storage, preparation and serving of food, as well as providing training for workers on the safe use and storage of sharp tools.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for multi-storey companies and malls, Sharaky explains that these establishments need advanced engineering systems, such as installing a network of automatic water sprinklers covering all areas of the building, and tanks and pumps to support the sprinkler network and the fire hoses, appointing occupational safety and health specialists for periodic supervision and the documentation of safety procedures, and periodic maintenance of lifts and escalators with clear warning signs, in addition to providing continuous monitoring via CCTV cameras and assigning trained security personnel to organise movement and evacuation in crowded areas.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In addition, he stresses the importance of providing personal protective equipment for workers, such as helmets, goggles and safety shoes, and of training them on lockout procedures and the control of the various energy sources when maintaining dangerous equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharaky says that spinning and weaving, sponge and chemical factories fall among the high-risk establishments and require strict compliance with the legal requirements and their executive regulations on industrial security, as spinning and weaving factories face the risk of rapid fires resulting from the accumulation of fibres and lint, in addition to mechanical hazards and noise; this requires installing sprinkler systems in all raw material storage and operating areas, industrial suction systems for dust and fibres equipped with filters, and providing special extinguishers for flammable solids, along with protective guards for all moving parts of the machines and applying the LOTO system before any maintenance, hearing protection for workers and periodic measurement of the concentration of dust and fibres in the air to limit respiratory diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for sponge factories, the main hazards there relate to the rapid ignition of the chemicals used and the high heat during processing, which requires installing an automatic extinguishing system in the storage and production areas, storing flammable materials safely in isolated and cooled areas, and isolating the heat-treatment area from the rest of the factory, while providing forced ventilation and chimneys to extract harmful chemical fumes, with workers wearing special protective equipment for the skin and respiratory system, in addition to eyewash units and emergency showers in areas exposed to chemical leaks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding chemical factories, Sharaky explains that these establishments face the most serious risks, including explosion, leakage and chemical fire, which calls for conducting a comprehensive periodic process hazard analysis, applying a management of change system to document any modifications to equipment or procedures, classifying hazardous areas, using explosion-proof equipment, lighting and cables, and providing safety data sheets for all chemicals and training workers to read them, with rapid response protocols for chemical spills and spill containment kits, storing chemically incompatible materials in separate places, and periodically inspecting pressure vessels, boilers and pipes and issuing certificates of fitness from accredited technical bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharaky warns that “the role of safety committees in companies is often not activated in institutions, and their meetings and decisions remain only on paper”, stressing that the practical application of the requirements is the only way to avoid accidents and protect lives and property. He also stresses the need to review the Egyptian building codes and the technical specifications approved by the Civil Protection Authority in each governorate, as the final reference for the mandatory requirements, especially in high-risk establishments.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Restricting workers’ rights places Egypt among the worst countries for trade union freedoms<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n


\nWho is responsible? <\/b><\/h1>\n

In this regard, Shaaban Khalifa stresses that inspection of establishments differs according to the competent authority and the type of risk, explaining that the Ministry of Labour is responsible for the administrative inspection of establishments with regard to workers, securing the work environment and solving workers’ problems, while responsibility for building, construction and boilers falls on two main bodies: the district administrations, represented by their engineering departments, and the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Civil Defence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Khalifa explains that the Civil Defence has a specialised department for each industrial zone, which is responsible for issuing and approving safety licences, stressing that any factory or establishment that is not issued a licence or permit by the Civil Defence cannot operate boilers or build new facilities. He adds: “The big problem lies in the district administrations, where there is a build-up and laxity in supervision, which allows some factories, such as the Mahalla factory, to continue working, building and installing boilers without any official permits”.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He also points out that the district administrations are the first and last body responsible for the work environment and for issuing licences, particularly for shops and caf\u00e9s in informal areas, stressing that the Ministry of Labour is unable to supervise all establishments, especially small or informal ones, which are often residential flats or “under-the-stairs” factories, where random and unregulated manufacturing practices take place within the parallel economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Khalifa adds that responsibility for inspecting boilers and heat-related risks falls on two bodies: the district engineers and the Civil Defence Department of the Ministry of Interior, with additional inspection by Ministry of Labour inspectors to ensure that establishments comply with safety standards. He concludes by saying: “All these bodies bear full responsibility for inspection and for applying the law on the ground, to ensure a safe working environment, and we welcome any follow-up or enquiries in this regard”.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>Guide to the Basic Principles of Occupational Safety and Health<\/span><\/a> in the work environment, issued by the International Labour Organization in 2016, \u201cResponsibility for achieving and implementing occupational safety and health tasks lies with all parties to production. Governments must draft legislation and enact laws and regulations that ensure the monitoring of the implementation of occupational safety and health requirements through occupational safety and health inspectors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Employers, for their part, bear responsibility for implementing occupational safety conditions and applying them practically and in reality. They must also provide workers exposed to occupational hazards with appropriate means of protection to prevent occupational diseases and work injuries, in addition to providing general means of protection such as ventilation and lighting, and ensuring a suitable working climate and an appropriate social and humane environment. As for trade unions and workers’ representatives, their responsibility includes guidance and awareness-raising in the field of occupational safety and health, and participation in occupational safety committees inside establishments. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

What is the solution? <\/b><\/h1>\n

Tamer Sharaky believes that developing a culture of occupational safety and health at the level of the state requires coordinated work that brings together legislation, implementation and education, pointing out that relying on establishments alone is not enough; rather, the government and the relevant oversight bodies must lead these efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n

He explains that the most important axes of the role of the government and the relevant bodies include reforming the legislative and regulatory framework, and updating labour laws and executive regulations so that fines and penalties for safety violations become deterrent and linked to the size of potential losses, with the application of the principle of multiple penalties when several workers are harmed; and strengthening the role of oversight bodies by transforming inspection from a formal activity into an effective partnership in improving safety, through training safety inspectors in specific specialisations, conducting inspections based on risk assessment, and establishing a national database of work accidents to guide future legislation, in addition to granting rapid authorisation to take administrative closure decisions when there is imminent danger.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also points to the importance of integrating occupational safety into technical and vocational education and engineering faculties, developing unified and accredited training programmes, launching continuous national awareness campaigns, and establishing a system of awards and incentives for companies that achieve excellent safety rates, which proactively strengthens the culture of safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharaky stresses strengthening engineering and procedural safety, by giving priority to engineering solutions and physical control, managing change before any modification to equipment or materials, and simplifying procedures to reduce human error, pointing out that adopting the international safety management system (ISO 45001) ensures the documentation of procedures, periodic risk assessment, and regular internal and external auditing, along with targeted training for workers on critical tasks, preparing first-responder teams, and informing workers of their legal rights and duties.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mahalla factory fire, which killed 13 people, exposes a huge gap between occupational safety laws and their application, amid an annual rise in fire incidents and injuries and overlapping inspection responsibilities between the district administrations, the Civil Defence and the Ministry of Labour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[390],"tags":[],"kateb":[6247],"class_list":["post-17231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-rights","kateb-rasha-ammar"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0646\u0633\u062e\u0629-\u0645\u0646-\u0639\u0645\u0627\u0644.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17231"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24054,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17231\/revisions\/24054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17231"},{"taxonomy":"kateb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kateb?post=17231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}