Debate Over Wages Continues; Labor Activists Say Labor Minister is Violating the Law

Nearly 20 days after the Supreme Labor Council, as a governmental body, set the minimum wage, protests regarding the method of wage determination and the payment ceiling continue. Ayat Asadi, a 'worker representative' in this council, states that the Labor Minister is not adhering to the law. According to ILNA, Asadi mentioned that based on labor law, the minimum wage must be set above the inflation rate, and the spirit of labor law regarding wages always refers to increases 'above the inflation rate.' Meanwhile, the Labor Minister has stated, 'We must raise wages over a multi-year period, and God willing, workers' wages will exceed inflation.' In response to these remarks, Asadi emphasizes that now that the power over labor lies in the hands of the Labor Minister, the law is not being followed, raising questions about the future credibility of the minister's statements. It is noteworthy that in the past two years, during the tenure of Minister Soulat Mortazavi, the increase in the minimum wage has occurred without the consent of workers and has been imposed by the government and employers. In the determination of the minimum wage for the year 1403, worker representatives walked out of the meeting and did not sign the minutes. Armin Khushvakhti, a senior labor law and relations expert, also spoke to ILNA about the law-breaking actions of the Supreme Labor Council, emphasizing that the ceiling of 50 million tomans for wages 'has no legal basis.' This senior expert stressed that the legal powers of the Supreme Labor Council, as stated in Article 167 of the labor law, show that this council has no authority to limit the wage agreement ceiling between workers and employers in the private sector. A 35% increase in the minimum wage for workers was approved in the last hours before the year 1403, but this wage increase has faced protests from many who say it is 'not sufficient at all' given the current inflation rate in Iran. Worker representatives believe that with this negligible wage increase, the living conditions of this crucial production element will become increasingly difficult, while the government argues that raising workers' wages will lead to increased inflation. Workers are demanding wage increases commensurate with inflation and living costs, while employers express concerns about heavy wage increases. A warning from a labor activist about 'absolute poverty' among retirees: the 1403 wage has been approved contrary to the law. The 'Labor Law Reform' bill for wage determination is being presented to the government by the parliament. Several labor and retirees' organizations state that there is no option left but to take to the streets. The continuation of workers' protests over the amount of wage increase; the likelihood of parliament's intervention to 'resolve the dispute' has increased. Protests from activists and labor organizations regarding wages below the poverty line continue. The riddle of income and expenses in Iran; a wage of $136 against costs of $500.