Protests Over Unpaid Professional Demands; Nurses Gather in Several Cities in Iran

Reports from Iran indicate that nurses and healthcare staff from several hospitals staged protests in at least three cities on Wednesday, November 22. The ILNA news agency reported that a number of nurses from 'Bashat' Hospital in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, believe that 'fair' pricing has not been implemented and the 'special bonus' has been neglected. Additionally, according to Telegram channels of labor and professional organizations, nurses and healthcare staff from 'Vali Asr' Hospital in Fasa, Fars Province, protested against the 'unfair payment of tariffs, bonuses, and overtime'. Based on a video shared on these channels, the protesters chanted: 'Shame on you, university president' and called for his resignation. Reports also indicate that 'nurses and healthcare staff in Rasht' gathered in front of the Medical Sciences University of the city, demanding their legal rights which have not been paid. On November 10, nurses from 'Shahada Tajrish' Hospital in Tehran protested against unfair tariffs and 'mandatory overtime'. Healthcare staff and temporary employees of the Ministry of Oil also protested on November 18 in at least four cities, including Islamabad-e Gharb, Kermanshah, and Yazd, against economic and professional issues, including unpaid overtime, bonuses, and tariffs for the year 1401. According to posts shared on social media, protesting nurses in Yazd gathered in front of the provincial governor's office, criticizing health officials in the city with chants: 'Incompetent official, resign, resign.' Simultaneously, temporary employees of the Ministry of Oil in Ahvaz also protested again due to unmet demands. The escalation of inflation and the constant rise in living costs, alongside unmet professional demands, have led workers, nurses, retirees, and other wage earners to hold protests in various cities in Iran almost every week. In some cases, these protests have turned violent due to the intervention of security forces and government agents, resulting in the arrest of several protesters. Nevertheless, protests over dire living conditions have expanded in recent years. This comes as the proposed budget bill for the year 1403 indicates that the increase in salaries will be less than 20%, and the gap between salary increases and inflation, along with the accumulation of past demands, could lead to a significant rise in protests in Iran. Zahra Binaei: Payments to nurses in Iran are insufficient and delayed. Zahra Binaei: Nurses in Iran are under pressure and facing shortages in every aspect. Protests by nurses in Urmia: Nurses shout, 'Shout for your rights'. Clerics are entering the medical field; the activity of two thousand 'psychologist clerics' in the country. Protests by retirees and various professions across Iran; protesting living conditions and insurance. Healthcare staff and employees of the Ministry of Oil protested in four cities. The Secretary-General of the Nurses' House: Patients die due to a shortage of nurses.