Fifteen hundred Sukari Gold Mine workers have declared a third day of strikes as they demand raises, the re-hiring of arbitrarily fired employees and the passing of a law that would make bonuses obligatory for dangerous work.

The mine’s management had fired 29 workers Tuesday, including members of the executive office of the independent workers’ union. They were fired in response to the ongoing strikes.

Roads leading to and from the mine have been blocked by the protesters. The mine has suspended operations in all departments, and no vehicle is allowed in or out of the premises.

The Sukari Gold Mine is the oldest and largest gold mine in Egypt. Located in the southeast, roughly 30 km from the Red Sea city of Marsa Alam, this massive mining project has been rocked by numerous industrial actions since the 25 January revolution, including strikes, sit-ins hunger strikes and protests, amidst allegations of corruption, smuggling and other controversies.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm