Proposed amendments to the Labor Unions Act would dramatically curb the powers and freedoms of unions, which will have serious political and economic ramifications for the country as a whole, Ibrahim Awad says in a column penned for Al Shorouk. Among the bill’s problems is that it will bar unions from receiving “foreign funding,” which he says is a vague stipulation that takes advantage of the current political climate that is wary of foreign meddling, despite funding from trustworthy bodies such as the International Labor Organization falling under the umbrella of foreign funding. The bill furthermore does nothing to protect the political rights of workers.

Awad’s concerns are similar to those of the recently-formed Supreme Council of Independent Labor Unions, which announced at a press conference on Saturday that it rejects the bill altogether, Al Mal reports. Members of the council decried the bill as “unfair,” “unconstitutional,” and one that serves businessmen and the government but works against laborers. The council, which is comprised of 16 unions, was reportedly formed last week due to the “urgent necessity” of uniting unions to protect their freedoms.