Hundreds of Workers from Hepco and Azar Ab Factories Gather in Arak

Workers from the Hepco and Azar Ab factories in Arak held separate protests on Wednesday, August 30, in front of the Central Governor's Office and the Martyrs' Square in Arak, demanding clarity regarding their overdue wage claims. According to ILNA news agency, 'hundreds' participated in each of these gatherings. This protest is considered the latest round of labor gatherings by the workers of the Hepco and Azar Ab factories. The report states that workers at the Azar Ab factory have nearly five months of unpaid wages, while wages for Hepco workers have not been fully paid since December 2016. Additionally, workers are protesting the non-payment of their insurance premiums by the employer, making it difficult for them to renew their insurance cards. In recent months, there have been several protests by workers in Arak. In mid-June, over four hundred workers from the Azar Ab factory gathered in front of the provincial governor's office demanding their salaries. About 900 workers from the Hepco factory also marched on Tuesday, July 4, in protest of the employer's failure to fulfill promises regarding their claims, marching from the production unit to the Central Governor's Office and the central square of Arak.