To the Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouli,

We submit this complaint to you following in the wake of the tragic event that took place on the morning of Friday the 27^th of June 2025 on the Inter-Governorate Road at the district of Ashmoun in the governorate of Monofeya. This accident led to the deaths of 17 young women and girls, as well as the driver and severely injuring another girl while they were heading to work in the harvesting of grapes in a farm.

Available information suggests that some of the victims were minors, aged between 13 and 15, working for a meager daily wage of 130 Egyptian pounds. They were transported to the workplace in a vehicle that is not suitable for the transportation of passengers on a notoriously hazardous road because it has no median barrier between the two opposing ways and no effective safety measures. All this actually reflects lack of supervision and oversight on work-related transportation means, especially in rural areas and informal sectors.

This human tragedy underscores aspects of grave inadequacies in the implementation of the Labour Law, the protection of children from the worst forms of labour, and guaranteeing a safe work environment especially in the agricultural sector where women and children work without any protection or insurance.

In this context, we hold the Ministry of Labour directly responsible for the following shortcomings:

• Not effectuating the role of oversight and inspection on the work environment, and lack of any oversight on the employment of minors.
• Not effectuating the judicial arrest powers of labour inspectors that allow them to impose immediate penalties for violations.
• Failing to oversee and regulate transportation means for workers in spite of repeated fatal accidents on roads related to employment areas in industrial and agricultural sectors.
• Allowing the continuation of the informal economic sector that exploits poor women and children without legal protection or social guarantees.

In light of this tragedy, we demand the following:

• Starting an immediate administrative investigation on this accident including reasons for lack of inspection and identification of those responsible for negligence.
• Transparent disclosure of the investigation's findings and determination of occupational liability for such a huge number of victims.
• Effectuating oversight on child labour and implementing relevant provisions of the Labour Law regarding legal employment age and conditions.
• ​​Development of a national plan to regulate women's employment in the agricultural sector, including safety measures, safe transportation, and social insurance.
• Collaboration with relevant entities (Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Education, Governorates) in order to guarantee that children are enrolled in education and to provide economic alternatives for families.

We hold the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Transportation fully responsible for any negligence or dereliction of duty.  We urge you to take immediate action to address these concerns and ensure that those accountable are held responsible and to devise an urgent emergency plan for the protection of working women and children as the minimum response necessary to respect the blood of those who lost their lives for livelihood.

Sincerely,

Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services

Committee to Defend Freedoms of Association and Labour Rights