Increase in Workers' Housing Allowance Canceled

ILNA news agency reported that with the announcement of the Minister of Labor of Ibrahim Raisi's government, the possibility of increasing the housing allowance for workers has been "completely ruled out." Solat Mortazavi stated that they have "increased the minimum wage for workers by 35 percent and the Supreme Labor Council had no other proposals in this area." Mohsen Bagheri, a member of the Supreme Labor Council, rejected the Minister's claim, stating that a meeting of the Supreme Labor Council was supposed to be held in Ordibehesht (May) but the Ministry of Labor has "neglected this matter." After tensions arose in wage determination meetings and the exit of labor representatives from the session, the Minister of Labor put the elimination of wage negotiations and the dissolution of the Supreme Labor Council on the agenda, and accordingly sought to transfer the determination of the minimum wage to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament). Last week, the government spokesperson announced that with the entry of the head of the government, the pursuit of this bill was halted. Determining the minimum wage for workers without considering inflation and the continuous increase in living costs and household livelihood baskets in recent years has increasingly shrunk family budgets. Labor protests and some of their representatives in decision-making bodies, such as the Supreme Labor Council, have so far yielded no results. Housing costs account for a significant portion of workers' income. A labor member of the Supreme Labor Council stated: the Minister of Labor's goal is to sideline labor organizations. On International Workers' Day, amid dire living conditions, professional organizations emphasized that organizing for change is essential. Setting wages in Parliament aims to reduce protests; the Minister of Labor's move to silence workers' voices.