Minimum New Year Bonus for Workers is 10.6 Million Tomans; The Smell of New Year is the Smell of Poverty

As the end of the year approaches, the discussion about the New Year bonus for workers has heated up again. Ayat Asadi, a representative of workers in the Supreme Labor Council, announced that the minimum New Year bonus for workers, considering the daily minimum wage, is 10 million and 616 thousand tomans; an amount that, at best, only covers the living expenses for 10 days for a four-member household. In recent years, with rising inflation, the arrival of Nowruz has become a significant concern for a considerable portion of workers, as the increase in costs associated with celebrating Nowruz does not match their income levels. Investigations by VOA show that 10.6 million tomans is insufficient to cover Nowruz expenses, as currently, just setting up a Haft-Seen table costs 10 million tomans. Studies indicate that the cost of Sabzi Polo with fish as the New Year's Eve dinner for a four-member family will be at least 600 thousand tomans at today's prices. According to reports from authoritative media in the pricing sector, today, January 7, each kilogram of trout averages 300 thousand tomans, and each kilogram of Iranian rice averages 100 thousand tomans. Thus, preparing a suitable dinner table for four on New Year's Eve will cost more than 600 thousand tomans. The cost of rice consumption during the holidays for a family of four, averaging 5 kilograms, exceeds 500 thousand tomans. The standard consumption of chicken meat for the holidays is estimated at 6 kilograms, which will cost 600 thousand tomans at today's average price of 100 thousand tomans. Buying 3 kilograms of red meat will also cost more than 2 million tomans at today's prices, as the average price of red meat is currently 700 thousand tomans. Assuming a consumption of 5 kilograms of sweets for a four-member household and guests, 1 million tomans must be set aside for this, as the average price of various sweets has now reached 200 thousand tomans. At least 1 million tomans is also needed for holiday fruits. Currently, each kilogram of low-quality market-regulated nuts costs 300 thousand tomans, and each kilogram of premium nuts exceeds 800 thousand tomans. Accordingly, at least 1 million and 200 thousand tomans should be spent on 4 kilograms of market-regulated nuts and 3 million and 200 thousand tomans for 4 kilograms of premium nuts. A week's travel, considering current expenses, costs at least 10 million tomans, leading many people to eliminate leisure and travel from their expense lists. Considering other expenses such as clothing, it can be predicted that workers and even a significant portion of the society will celebrate the New Year with the bare minimum and will cut many expenses, including clothing costs, from their budget. A union official stated that the New Year will begin with rising prices of legumes. A new wave of meat price increases has begun. The prices reported by the public differ from the government narrative; the inflation is rampant. A union activist noted that the volume of fruit purchases by people has significantly decreased. An Associated Press report from the New Year's market in Iran states: No one is happy.