Release of Detained Workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company

The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Syndicate announced that 10 of the detained workers from the company were released on Saturday, July 29. Previously, 5 detained workers were released on Wednesday, July 26. According to this labor organization, the 10 workers who had been in Dezful prison were temporarily released by the prosecutor's office upon providing bail or salary slips. Earlier, different statistics had been published regarding the number of detained workers at Haft Tappeh. The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Syndicate reported the detention of 20 workers, while the Free Workers' Union of Iran reported 13 detentions, and the ILNA news agency reported 15 arrests. These detentions were carried out by law enforcement and security agents, despite Shush's governor, Reza Najati, stating to ISNA that he was unaware of the workers' arrests. Meanwhile, according to the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Syndicate, some workers gathered in front of the Dezful court to support their imprisoned colleagues. Previously, several labor organizations in Iran and the International Federation of Food, Agricultural and Allied Workers' Unions strongly criticized the detention of some striking workers from Haft Tappeh. In this regard, Peter Rossman, head of the international section and campaign of the International Federation of Food, Agricultural and Allied Workers' Unions, stated to Radio Farda that the federation would file a complaint with the International Labor Organization if the detention of these workers continued. Concurrently, according to the Ettehad website, belonging to the Free Workers' Union of Iran, hundreds of workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company were on strike to achieve their demands, including the release of imprisoned colleagues and the payment of their union dues. The workers demanded the payment of salaries for Ordibehesht and Khordad of this year, as well as salaries for Bahman and Esfand of 2016, eight months of last year's bonuses, and bonuses from two years ago. Meanwhile, the private employer of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company has only paid half of one month's salary to the workers. Reports indicate that the workers also demanded the return of ownership of this unit to the government. Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company was privatized in Esfand 2016, which drew criticism. The public prosecutor's office has intervened in the issues of Haft Tappeh workers. Mustafa Nazari, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Shush, announced on Saturday in an interview with Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, that the public prosecutor's office has intervened in the issues of a group of workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company. He stated: 'The workers of this factory have demands that the prosecutor's office is pursuing, and we have intervened in this matter.' According to the state news agency IRNA, this judiciary official advised the protesting workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company last Tuesday to pursue their demands legally, as gathering on the road and blocking traffic is 'an illegal act.' Mustafa Nazari stated: 'The gathering of some Haft Tappeh workers on the Shush-Ahvaz highway and blocking this road is illegal, and violators will be dealt with.' He announced that this issue will be seriously pursued by law enforcement, stating: 'Those who have engaged in unauthorized gatherings will be identified and punished.'