About 600 workers at the Ain ​​Sokhna Port on Tuesday staged an open-ended protest against what they said was a failure to disburse the 2011 profits, which was promised by the management company, Dubai Ports World.

They say they are holding six of the company’s managers hostage until their demands are met. “The company has postponed disbursement from April to September,” said Ashraf Eissa, member of the workers syndicate.

Workers at Ain Sokhna seaport staged a five-day strike in February to demand an increase in their profit share and risk payment.

International maritime port operator DP World said on 19 February that the workers ended their strike after reaching an agreement. The company said that the strike resulted in losses estimated at LE50 million.

DP World signed an agreement with former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif in October 2007 that granted the company exclusive rights to run the port until 2032.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm