In anticipation of new law, Egypt's labor unions in limbo

Egypt's trade union movement is approaching an uncertain juncture, with the future of both the state-controlled federation and its independent counterpart uncertain.

State-controlled unions have monopolized Egypt's trade union movement since 1957. However, this monopoly has been weakened with the establishment of the first independent trade union in December 2008; the 25 January revolution has served to further dissolve this monopoly.

With each passing day, the power of the state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF) appears to decline, while the strength of the independent union movement - spearheaded by the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU) - appears to gradually increase.

Furthermore, since the revolution, a number of governmental decrees and purges have served to dilute the monopoly of the state-controlled ETUF. On 4 August, the cabinet issued a decree dissolving the ETUF's executive board - which has been dominated by the former ruling National Democratic Party - and appointing a caretaker council to preside over the federation until new elections can be held. Based on judicial rulings, the ETUF's 24 general unions, along with 173 local union committees, are soon expected to be dissolved.

The cabinet is also engaged in the drawn-out process of issuing a new trade union law to replace Trade Union Act 35/1976. The future of Egypt's union structures and elections will be determined according to this new law - when and if it is issued.

Labor activist Saber Barakat, who is now a member of the ETUF's caretaker council, said, "We have no information yet regarding when the new trade union law will be issued. Some forces want to issue the law as soon as possible - including the Ministry of Manpower under Ahmad Hassan al-Borai. Others want to postpone, re-amend the law, or scrap it altogether - including ETUF's old guard and some members of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces."