Collusion of the Ministry of Labor with Employers; Protesting Workers Are Identified

On Friday, January 21, the Free Workers Union of Iran published a letter from the Ministry of Labor to labor offices in various provinces, including East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, and South Khorasan, instructing these offices to inform other employers seeking labor about the history of protests and complaints made by workers against their employers. Many critics believe this means informing employers to prevent the hiring of protesting workers, thereby reducing future labor gatherings and protests. The Free Workers Union of Iran stated: "This is a plan to identify and introduce workers who have filed complaints with the Ministry of Labor due to the violation of their basic rights by employers." The report emphasized: "One must ask the Minister of Labor, with your plan, which employer would be willing to hire a worker who has previously filed a complaint against another employer?" The Free Workers Union of Iran wrote on its Telegram channel: "The Ministry of Labor's plan is essentially a warning to tens of thousands of workers to remain silent against any form of protest, even individually, against employers." Additionally, it noted the increased security responses to workers and trades in 2024. The report also mentioned the suppression of labor organizations, stating: "In conditions where independent labor organizations are not allowed to operate to defend workers' rights, workers are forced to refer to arbitration boards and, at a higher level, to the Administrative Justice Court." This labor union cited a report from the state-run news agency ISNA, stating that in the first ten months of the year 1401 (2022), over 400,000 labor disputes were processed by arbitration boards, and 20,000 cases were referred to the Administrative Justice Court, of which about 7,000 rulings were changed. The report stressed that this plan is solely for removing protesters and suppressing voices of dissent, and it has no practical application for workers. The Telegram channel 'Kargah', which operates in the labor sector, reported: "By order of Ahmad Midari, the Minister of Labor, employers will be informed of the legal complaint history of workers against previous employers before hiring labor." This channel added that while this plan provides an opportunity for screening for employers, it poses a threat to workers who seek their legal rights through labor offices after their employment ends. According to the report from Kargah, the Minister of Labor's plan aims to intimidate workers from approaching arbitration boards or the Administrative Justice Court. Critics argue that various governments in the Islamic Republic have always pursued policies in favor of employers, contrary to their slogans, and this collaboration has been evident in the Supreme Labor Council meetings. The suppression of labor organizations and unions, including during the government of Masoud Pezeshkian, is one of the issues that the Islamic Republic has prioritized.