Islamic Republic's Broken Promise with Delay in Pensioners' Salary Adjustment

Despite the promises made by officials of the Islamic Republic regarding the "adjustment" of pensioners' salaries, reports from Iran indicate that the pension slips for social security retirees this month were issued "without change compared to last month." According to a report by the Arman-e Melli newspaper published in Tehran on Thursday, November 8, "there is no news of the adjustment amount in the November salary slip," and social security retirees "say that the status of their salary adjustment is still unclear." Meanwhile, Fatemeh Mohajerani, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic government, stated in recent days that the "process of issuing rulings" for retirees, although "long and complicated," will be "resolved soon." Additionally, Mohammad Asadi, the head of the Supreme Council of Retired Workers in the country, had promised that "the November salaries of retirees will be paid with the adjustment applied." According to this report, this government official also quoted the head of the Social Security Organization as saying that "the payments related to the adjustment will occur in due time, meaning that 40% of the adjustments for social security retirees will be settled by the end of Aban 1403 (November 2024)." The delay in paying retirees' demands comes at a time when Faramarz Tofighi, a labor activist, stated that based on the budget bill for the upcoming year and despite the government's economic adjustment policies, "fundamental supports are being eliminated" and "people are becoming poorer." In this context, economist Hassan Mansour told Voice of America that the budget for the next year will increase inflation and tighten the living conditions of citizens. The expansion of protests from various groups, including retirees, workers from various industries, teachers, defrauded individuals, and nurses and healthcare workers, indicates the increasing livelihood problems in Iran and the indifference of the Islamic Republic officials. The continuation of livelihood protests in Iran coincides with the intensification of disputes between Israel and the Islamic Republic, and unrest in Iran's financial markets continues as well.