Employees at the BBC's Cairo bureau initiated a three-day strike on Monday, demanding pay equality with their colleagues in other Middle Eastern locations. Amidst Egypt's ongoing economic struggles, including record-high inflation and a depreciating currency, the striking staff are advocating for payment in US dollars or a substantial raise in the local currency, the Egyptian pound. Spokesperson Khaled el-Balshy, also head of Egypt's journalism union, stated that 75 employees are participating in the strike, citing what they perceive as "gross discrimination" compared to BBC staff in cities like Beirut and Istanbul.
The BBC's London office responded, indicating a planned 27% salary increase between March and July to offset the impact of inflation, and affirmed their commitment to finding a resolution while adhering to their market pay policy. However, el-Balshy argues that this increase is insufficient considering the severity of Egypt's economic downturn. The Egyptian pound has plummeted against the dollar, losing over half its value in the past year, while inflation soared to 36.8% in June. These economic woes stem from a combination of government austerity measures, the pandemic's lingering effects, and the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, which has significantly impacted Egypt's wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine.
While earlier reports suggested that BBC Istanbul staff were paid in dollars, this was later clarified by el-Balshy and confirmed by the BBC press office that they are paid in Turkish lira.
