A Labor Activist Says the 35% Wage Increase is Ineffective; Livelihoods in Distress

A labor activist in Iran believes that the approved wage increase has no effect on improving the conditions and the imbalance between income and expenses, and therefore, one should not expect an increase in gross national production. Faramarz Tofighi stated in an interview with ILNA news agency that under these conditions, the desire for employment among young people aged 19 to 28 will not develop, and there will be no motivation for production. According to Tofighi, the wage has been set unfairly, and the government is continuously evading the law. This labor activist described the Minister of Labor of Ebrahim Raisi's government as a 'flagbearer of lawlessness' and emphasized that the minister not only disregards Article 41 of the Labor Law but also sees himself above the law, claiming that the Labor Law needs to be reformed. Criticism of the government's approach regarding the lagging income behind expenses and the livelihood crisis has peaked in recent weeks, and media reports indicate that the livelihood crisis is turning into various social crises and an increase in different types of crime. The Ham-Mihan newspaper reported on April 8 that thefts from supermarkets and food stores have risen. According to Ham-Mihan, the amount of credit sales has also increased, and this trend has grown compared to two or three years ago. Most experts believe that economic issues are the main factor behind the increase in theft in Iran. Accordingly, in June of last year, Masoud Setayesh, the spokesperson for the judiciary, announced an increase in theft rates. The Iranian Statistical Center also reported last spring that the rate of theft has been on the rise, making theft the second most common crime in the country after drug-related offenses. Ham-Mihan also emphasizes that reviewing statistics shows that theft has quadrupled in recent years. Concurrently, the prices of goods have also seen a significant increase. Reports from the Statistical Center last year indicated that 'in the group of red and white meat and their products, there was an increase of 5.85%, fish and shellfish by 4.67%, tea, coffee, cocoa, soft drinks, and fruit juices by 3.46%, and fruits and nuts by 8.44% in September 2023 compared to the same month the previous year.' The dispute over wages continues; labor activists say the Minister of Labor is violating the law. A warning from a labor activist about the 'absolute poverty' of retirees: the 2024 wage has been approved contrary to the law. The 'Labor Law Reform' bill for determining wages is being presented to the government by the parliament. Several labor and retirees' organizations have stated that there is no way left but to take to the streets. The protests of workers regarding the wage increase continue; the likelihood of parliament intervening to 'resolve the dispute' has increased.