Continued Livelihood Protests in Various Regions of Iran

Simultaneously with the ongoing strike and gathering of hundreds of miners from the Tazreh mine and workers at the petrochemical terminals and tanks in Mahshahr, as well as literacy movement forces, nurses in Yazd and families of official oil industry employees in Bushehr held protest rallies. According to ILNA news agency, about 1,400 workers from the Tazreh coal mine, a subsidiary of the Eastern Alborz Coal Company in Semnan province, went on strike for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, October 4. This labor protest, which began on Monday, October 2, by contract and subcontract workers, has expanded with the joining of other workers and employees of the Tazreh mine. The protesters' demands include 'elimination of contractors', 'increase in minimum wages to improve workers' living conditions', 'signing of continuous and permanent contracts', 'solving retirement issues with the inclusion of unrealistic job titles in lists', 'ensuring job security for workers', and 'granting the right to protest and express occupational issues by workers'. Workers and miners in Iran, in addition to livelihood and occupational problems, also struggle with the issue of unsafe working conditions. An explosion at the Minejo coal mine in Tabas on September 22 resulted in the deaths of about 50 workers. Last September, an explosion at one of the Tazreh mines in Damghan left at least 6 dead and injured. ILNA also reported on Wednesday the seventh day of protests by workers at the petrochemical terminals and tanks in Mahshahr. According to this report, the workers' demands include 'implementation of a classification plan for contract and subcontract workers', 'payment of petro cards to all workers', 'regular payment of holiday allowances and bonuses', 'resolution of social security and supplementary insurance payment issues', 'allocation of quotas to contract workers for job status conversion', and 'increasing the average monthly overtime for contract and company workers'. At the same time, nurses in Yazd protested against the failure to meet their demands, emphasizing the reform of nursing tariffs, proper implementation of the law on hard and harmful jobs, voluntary overtime, and access to housing rights, gathering in front of the Yazd University of Medical Sciences. Literacy movement employees from various provinces, including Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, also gathered for the second consecutive day in front of the Iranian Parliament building in Tehran, chanting protest slogans. Based on reports published on the 'Civil Market Protest' news channel, the protesters demanded improvement in job conditions, access to insurance, and salary increases. Families of official oil industry employees residing in the Jam town in Bushehr also marched in protest against the non-payment of full salaries and benefits and unfair deductions. According to reports published on news channels, the protesters chanted: 'Employment contracts must be implemented, unjust deductions must be annulled.' Following the worsening economic situation in Iran, labor and occupational protests have increased. Livelihood protests are expanding among a wide range of Iranians, including nurses, retirees, workers, teachers, investors, and healthcare workers, while the political deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has stated in its publication addressed to 'ministries related to the market and economy' that 'they must prepare for a warlike stance' and get ready for an 'economic war'.