Security forces in Marsa Alam dispersed a sit-in in the early hours of Sunday by gold mine laborers on temporary contracts with a construction company operating at Sukari gold mines.
Dozens of laborers had been blocking the road to the mine for five days to demand permanent contracts. The sit-in has completely halted work at the site.
The company's director of public relations, Esmat al-Ragehy, said his company has suffered losses of up to US$10 million.
The Sukhari gold mines, Egypt's largest and oldest mines, have undergone bouts of strikes since the 25 January revolution. Workers employed at this mine claim that they were systematically exploited by the administration, punitively sacked and denied basic labor rights.
Controversy erupted in 2012 over a contract with a Centamin Egypt, an Australian mining company, who many claimed was taking advantage of their Egyptian partners, according to former MP Mohamed Awad.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
