Activities of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Suspended Until Further Notice

As workers at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry continue their protests over unpaid wages, the CEO of the company announced a temporary shutdown of the facility. According to ILNA news agency, Omid Asadbik, the CEO, communicated this decision through an administrative memo to the employees. In the memo, Asadbik stated that recent actions by 'irresponsible and unhelpful individuals who have shown no regard for the company's current regulations' compelled him to make this decision. He added that 'to prevent potential irreparable damage, all units will be declared closed until further notice to determine the situation and ensure security for the continuation of the company's operations.' As reported, 'only the security section' of the company will remain operational to 'protect the company's assets.' ILNA noted that delays in wage payments to workers have caused disruptions in the operations and production of the sugar company. This is not the first time that Haft Tappeh's activities have been halted; in March 2018, following workers' protests, the company's operations were also suspended but resumed after three days due to an agreement between workers and management. Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry was privatized in March 2016, and since then, workers have reported worsening economic issues, including delays in wage and insurance payments. Workers have frequently gone on strike and protested for their rights since the privatization. The non-payment of workers' dues has led to tragic incidents, including the suicide of Ali Naqdi, a seasonal worker at Haft Tappeh. The workers' protests have faced security and judicial crackdowns. The Free Union of Workers of Iran reported on February 4 that 34 detained workers from Haft Tappeh have been released, following their arrest by special police forces stationed at the company. In recent years, workers and labor activists have been arrested or sentenced to prison on security charges. Previously, legal cases had been opened against at least 70 Haft Tappeh workers, who were detained or summoned following a major strike in September 2017. The government's actions against workers and labor organizations have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and international labor unions. This occurs while officials of the Islamic Republic frequently speak of 'engagement' with labor organizations. Concurrently with ongoing labor protests in Iran, the website of the Supreme Leader published a speech from February 16, in which he accused 'enemies' of attempting to create 'stagnation and lethargy among workers or forcing them to do so.' The Supreme Leader has repeatedly stated: 'The counter-revolution has always had its eyes on the workers.'