Over Two Weeks Since Workers' Strike at Hepco Factory in Arak

More than two weeks have passed since the labor protest of workers at the Hepco factory in Arak, protesting the privatization of this unit and the non-payment of their wage claims. According to ILNA news agency, sources close to the protesting Hepco workers say that these workers are also protesting what they call 'the employer's indifference to their demands.' According to the 'Diār-e Aftāb' website, they are demanding the return of the ownership of the Hepco factory to the government. The Hepco factory in Arak was privatized in 2007. A Hepco worker told this news agency that the private shareholder purchased this unit in 2007 for a financial value of 700 billion rials and was supposed to pay the remaining amount in installments over four years and six months after paying 20% of this amount. However, according to this worker, more than five years have passed since the end of this shareholder's commitment, and he has no intention of paying his financial debts to the factory and its workers. Meanwhile, the 'Arak Emruz' website reported that Hepco workers marched in the streets of Arak on Saturday in protest against the failure to meet their demands and gathered in the city center to call for attention to their problems. Concurrently with the Hepco workers' labor protest, reports indicate some labor protests in various regions of Iran. For instance, workers at Avangan Arak gathered in front of this factory due to the non-payment of 27 months of their wages and benefits. The Avangan Arak company, like the Hepco factory and some other factories, has been privatized. This factory, established in 1976, was sold to the private sector for 120 billion rials in installments in 2004. The Avangan factory is the largest producer of power transmission towers in the Middle East. Protests against the privatization of factories continue as the policy of transferring production units to the private sector by the government of Hassan Rouhani continues. In another incident, more than 500 workers from a contracting company at the Persian Gulf Star Refinery went on strike and gathered in the refinery area. These workers have not received their wages since September, and their insurance premiums have also not been paid. Fars news agency also reported the gathering of workers from the Iran Meter Factory in Alborz County in protest against the non-payment of their wage claims in front of the county governor's office. In this regard, Reza Asgari, the governor of Alborz County, stated that due to the failure of the CEO of the Iran Meter Factory to fulfill his commitments to resolve financial and labor issues and lack of managerial competence, this company will be transferred to a new investor. Meanwhile, various news agencies reported that workers from the Pars Wagon factory in Arak, the Polyacrylic factory in Isfahan, a group of contract workers from the Neyriz Municipality in Fars Province, employees of the Thamen al-Hojjaj Institute in Kerman, a group of workers from the Zarfam Steel factory in Yazd, and workers from the Dehloran Cement factory have recently gathered in protest against their conditions. In this context, the gathering of workers from the Mohabad Agricultural and Industrial Complex has entered its 40th day. A labor activist stated that workers' wages run out in the first week. The Tehran prosecutor accused the 'enemy' of exploiting labor protests. There has been a 69% increase in social, labor, and professional protests. Six representatives have warned the Minister of Interior about 'violent' responses to gatherings of Unit drivers. The changing battlefield of 'proxy forces'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of opponents and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. 1300 hours of internet outages; Witkoff: a horrific massacre occurred during the protests in Iran. The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran.' The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump emphasizes 'stopping executions in Iran': we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump says if the Islamic Republic assassinates him, it will be 'erased from the earth.'