Labor Organizations Demand Improvement in Workers' Living Conditions

Several labor organizations in Iran, on the occasion of International Workers' Day on May 1, called for improvements in workers' living conditions, including the establishment of fair wages, payment of overdue wages, and the abolition of temporary and blank signature contracts. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Syndicate of Construction Workers and Painters of Alborz Province, the Committee for the Follow-up of Labor Organizations, and the Coordination Committee for Assisting the Establishment of Labor Organizations stated that the "intensification of the exploitation of workers and the emptiness of their tables" has led workers to "knock on every door" to feed themselves and their children. In this joint statement, referring to the minimum wage of 812,000 tomans set by the Supreme Labor Council this year, they noted that this amount is "four times below the poverty line." The Supreme Labor Council, affiliated with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, determined the minimum wage at 812,000 tomans last March. This decision faced severe criticism from labor organizations, which argue that the monthly living cost of a working-class family in Iran exceeds three million tomans. This figure has also been confirmed by Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, head of the Management and Planning Organization, but only for Tehran. Nevertheless, officials from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare claim that there is no possibility of further wage increases as it would raise production costs. However, some official labor organizations cite statistics indicating that the share of wages in production costs is about 10 percent. Criticism of the Securityization of Workers' Protests The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Syndicate of Construction Workers and Painters of Alborz Province, the Committee for the Follow-up of Labor Organizations, and the Coordination Committee for Assisting the Establishment of Labor Organizations also criticized workplace accidents, gender discrimination, and the double oppression of women and migrant workers, youth unemployment, child labor, and the lack of democratic and political freedoms, as well as the securityization of workers' protests. These labor organizations pointed to the government's efforts to prevent the establishment of independent workers' organizations and what they termed the "onslaught on the few existing labor organizations," criticizing the summons of workers and labor activists, as well as their threats, arrests, and imprisonments. The statement also emphasized the urgent need to end these crackdowns. They noted that, in their description, "the sword has been drawn" in the past couple of years, responding to every workers' demand and protest with force, threats, arrests, and imprisonment. They stated that workers will not remain silent and will strive for a humane life, in accordance with the highest standards of human existence. Currently, several labor activists, such as Jafar Azimzadeh, Mohammad Jarahee, and Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, are imprisoned. Additionally, several other labor activists, including Reza Shahabi, Davood Razavi, Mahmoud Salehi, and Osman Ismaili, have been sentenced to prison. Furthermore, a number of workers protesting their occupational conditions have also been tried in courts and are awaiting their verdicts. These crackdowns have drawn severe criticism from human rights organizations and international labor unions. Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare speak of the government of Hassan Rouhani's respect for workers' organization. Emphasis on the Need for Payment of Overdue Wages Four labor organizations that signed this statement declared that the establishment of fair wages through the real representatives of workers in independent labor organizations, with what they termed "the broad backing of the working masses," would be possible. These organizations also emphasized the necessity of paying overdue wages and called for the abolition of temporary and blank signature contracts, the elimination of contracting and intermediary companies, and ensuring that workers, from small workshops to free zones, are fully covered by labor law and that construction workers' insurance is implemented immediately. The four labor organizations also condemned certain policies known as austerity measures, such as price liberalization, the dismissal and unemployment of workers under the pretext of workforce adjustments, deregulation of labor rights, and the destruction of several decades of labor rights achievements and assaults on labor law, calling for an end to these policies. Their reference is to the efforts of recent governments, including Hassan Rouhani's administration, to change labor law. The Rouhani government claims that changing certain laws is essential for creating employment and attracting foreign investment in Iran, but critics point to past actions, such as exempting workshops with fewer than five or ten workers from labor law or free zone regulations, stating that these measures have not had any impact on employment. The four labor organizations in their statement also called for retirees to enjoy a prosperous life, free health insurance, a halt to the dismissal and unemployment of workers, unemployment insurance for the unemployed, equal pay for women and men, respect for workers' rights to form independent labor unions, and the right to protest, strike, gather, march, and freedom of expression, as well as the prohibition of child labor. They demanded the elimination of all forms of discrimination and injustice against migrant workers, the freedom of labor and occupational activists, and their reinstatement, the declaration of May 1 as an official holiday, and the removal of any restrictions on holding ceremonies for this international day. Request for Increasing the Minimum Wage Above the Poverty Line The Free Workers' Union of Iran and the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah, in a joint statement, pointed out that workers in Iran are deprived of the right to organize, protest, strike, and hold International Workers' Day ceremonies, adding that workers, due to low wages being more than four times below the poverty line, are forced to work up to 18 hours a day. In this statement, referring to the security and judicial crackdowns on workers and labor activists, it was stated that activists and leaders of the labor movement, workers, teachers, and any wage-earning individuals who protest their conditions are, according to these two labor organizations, severely repressed, and many end up in detention centers. The Free Workers' Union of Iran and the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah demanded an increase in the minimum wage above the poverty line, which they stated should be three million and 500 thousand tomans, and emphasized the necessity of providing unemployment insurance to all unemployed individuals and removing security charges from the files of labor and social activists, as well as the freedom of all of them. Meanwhile, the Free Workers' Union of Iran and the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah, in a joint statement along with two other organizations; the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company and the Workers' Rights Defenders Association, declared that, in their description, "the working class of Iran is uniquely under heavy repressive pressures" and stated that they are deprived of any right to protest and have no organizations. These four labor organizations called for an immediate increase in the minimum wage, timely payment of wages, job security or unemployment insurance, a ban on the formation of judicial cases with security charges against protesters, and the freedom of labor and occupational activists. The prohibition of child labor, the right to create independent organizations and the freedom to join them, the freedom to strike, protest, march, gather, think, and express, as well as political parties and press for all people in Iran are among the other demands of these labor organizations. They also called for the Social Security Organization and insurance funds to be placed under the control of those they referred to as the elected representatives of workers, with government officials having no right to interfere. The abolition of all discriminatory laws against women and equal rights for women and men, the recognition of equal citizenship rights for foreign migrants, and the official holiday declaration of International Workers' Day, as well as the recognition of any labor demonstrations on this day, are among the other demands of these organizations. "Change Austerity Policies" The Syndicate of Metalworkers and Mechanics, the Association of Honey Producers in Asaluyeh, and the Union of Project-Based Workers of Iran also criticized in a statement that the governments following the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran have not fulfilled their legal obligations towards workers, pointing to the negative consequences of austerity policies and calling for a change in these policies. Earlier, the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils across Iran had stated in a statement that ensuring welfare and job security, maintaining the independence of the Social Security Organization, and implementing the retirement law for hard and hazardous jobs were the most important demands of the labor community. This organization, recognized in labor law, pointed to the livelihood problems of workers and called for government officials to give more attention to the welfare and strengthening of workers' purchasing power and their access to a dignified livelihood. According to ILNA, the continuation of temporary work contracts was also another criticism of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils across Iran, which stated that these contracts have deprived workers of security and peace. The Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils across Iran believes that the result of temporary work contracts has endangered workers' ability to plan and enjoy a dignified and stress-free life. Many labor organizations have previously called for the abolition of temporary work contracts. According to these organizations, workers under these contracts are deprived of many benefits of labor law. According to ILNA, the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils across Iran also raised two other demands; opposition to the transfer of the social health fund to the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, and the proper implementation of the law for hard and hazardous jobs for workers.