Egyptian lawmaker Mohamed Zeineddine urged the cabinet to intervene and save 43 Egyptian workers who are being held against their will by their employer in Iraq.
Zeineddine sent an urgent request to the cabinet, namely the ministries of foreign affairs, manpower, and emigration, to immediately interfere to save the workers and ensure their rights are respected.
He explained that the detained Egyptians work in two different companies: the Shuaiba natural gas plant in Basra and Hamam al-Alil natural gas plant in Mosul. Both companies are owned by Iraqi businessman Faisal Farid Rageh al-Atiya.
Al-Atiya is exploiting the workers, and he has deprived them of food for about ten days “to pressure his government,” claimed the MP.
The deputy affirmed that the workers face humiliating treatment and direct threats. Al-Atiya also refused to treat some of the workers “suffering from illness while being held in detention”.
According to a member of parliament, the businessman has also reportedly deprived the workers of their salaries for about 14 months, urging the government to quickly intervene and resolve the issue.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has yet to comment on the parliament’s request.
