Minister of Economy: Pricing and Assessment for the Transfer of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane is Underway

On Wednesday, September 20, the Minister of Economy stated: "The pricing and assessment phase for Haft Tappeh Sugarcane for transfer is underway," expressing hope that a "final determination" regarding this large agricultural-industrial unit will be made. These remarks come as workers at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane are demanding the transfer of this agricultural-industrial unit to the Khuzestan Sugarcane Development and Planning Company. According to ISNA news agency, Ehsan Khandozi discussed the latest status of the transfer of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, stating: "Since September 2021, when the thirteenth government began its work, the issue of transferring Haft Tappeh Company through the management contract that was concluded has been pursued." The Minister of Economy mentioned that since then, "positive events in management" of Haft Tappeh Company have occurred, which he described as having created satisfaction "both in the labor sector and in production and investment." This comes amidst protests by workers and their representatives regarding the status of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company during the timeframe mentioned by Ehsan Khandozi. In this context, Ibrahim Abbasi-Manjazi, a representative of Haft Tappeh workers, tweeted in late August that workers "will not accept either bribery or threats regarding the survival of Haft Tappeh" and consider "tolerance regarding workers' interests as betrayal." Abbasi-Manjazi referred to the workers' demand for the transfer of Haft Tappeh to the Khuzestan Sugarcane Development and Planning Company, adding: "Although some wanted to involve other organizations, we remain determined that the development plan will save Haft Tappeh, and we stand firm with no doubts." Earlier, a number of Haft Tappeh workers issued a statement on August 16, criticizing the government's policies and stated that they are now "dealing with them directly." Previously, Omid Asadbigi and his partner, Mehrdad Rostami Chaghini, had purchased Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, covering an area of 24,000 hectares, with a mere "down payment of six billion tomans" in the winter of 2015. After privatization, the company faced numerous problems, such as long delays in wage and benefit payments, leading to protests from its workers. In this regard, some labor activists from this company, such as Ismail Bakhti, proposed two demands: "the company should be transferred back to the government or managed by a council for this agricultural-industrial unit." These two demands were not accepted by Hassan Rouhani's government, and severe security and judicial actions were taken against the workers and their labor activists. Meanwhile, following continued labor protests alongside the revelation of a $1.5 billion embezzlement by the private owner of the company, government and judicial bodies annulled the private ownership of this agricultural-industrial unit. Subsequently, this company became a subsidiary of the Sugarcane Development and Ancillary Industries Company, managed by Abdolali Naseri. According to the independent channel of Haft Tappeh workers, the signatories of the August 16 statement pointed out: "It was agreed that Haft Tappeh would be transferred to seven plans, and this was part of the agreements between government officials and our representatives. However, it was transferred under management contracting, and this final stage has not yet occurred." The signatories of the statement also noted that "the government agreed to transfer the company, but the ministry under it is busy with something else," writing about their demands: "Returning to the private sector under any pretext means returning us to the streets and starting over." The statement indicated that "the managers of the seven plans are exploiting this suspended situation," stating: "We will not tolerate the appointment of ineffective and irresponsible managers and factionalism, and we will not be bitten twice by the same hole." Haft Tappeh workers addressed the government of Ebrahim Raisi and the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade, stating that "the key problem today is not the seven plans or the Haft Tappeh workers, but the government, which is unclear about what plans it has for Haft Tappeh." The statement emphasized that the government, as the main problem of Haft Tappeh, is obliged to fulfill its agreements and promises.