The Journalists Syndicate has referred Al-Bawaba News founder Abdel Rahim Ali and his daughter, Editor-in-Chief Dalia Abdel Rahim, to multiple investigations after minimum wage negotiations stalled. Journalists launched an open strike on November 17 demanding better pay and conditions, as management rejected the requests citing financial woes and announced plans to liquidate the company.
The Journalists Syndicate announced on Sunday, following its board meeting, that it is referring Abdel Rahim Ali and his daughter Dalia Abdel Rahim to internal investigations for filing a police report against seven striking employees and two syndicate council members without permission, as well as inciting against colleagues who sought syndicate support. The statement noted the report accused protesters of unlicensed protesting and included Eman Ouf and Mahmoud Kamel for their solidarity with the demonstrators.
The syndicate also referred a memorandum signed by over 130 journalists against Ali and his daughter to investigation due to their refusal to implement the minimum wage and obstruction of salary payments to protesters. It highlighted their responsibility for dismissing journalists and failing to enforce the minimum wage. Additionally, a memorandum seeking to revoke Ali and his other daughter Shahenda's membership was sent to the registration committee over allegations of violating registration conditions, including Ali's article admitting to owning 20 percent of the company's assets, breaching Article 5 of the syndicate's law.
Ahmed and Mohamed Yehia al-Diasty, sons of the company's legal counsel, were referred for investigation following a complaint from more than 30 journalists regarding verbal abuse toward the striking staff. The syndicate filed a lawsuit to halt the liquidation process and compel minimum wage payments, while contacting the Labor Ministry, Giza Labor Directorate, and Supreme Council for Media Regulation.
Weeks before the strike, 70 journalists submitted a memorandum to the syndicate and government offices, granting management a 10-day deadline that went unmet, leading to the sit-in. Nearly two years ago, Ali and Dalia faced similar referrals for arbitrary dismissals and salary cuts, with journalist registrations halted at the time.
