Follow the latest labor and trade union events in Iran in February 2019 here every day.
The latest labor and trade union events in Iran in February 2019.
Latest articles Oldest articles 16:30 1.12.1397 Statement from four labor and trade union organizations: The minimum wage for 98 must be seven million tomans. Four independent labor and trade union organizations emphasized the vital necessity of united struggle to determine a wage equivalent to the average household cost in 98 and demanded the establishment of seven million tomans as the minimum monthly wage for workers in 98. These four independent labor and trade union organizations pointed to the rising and paralyzing inflation, widespread unemployment, and meager incomes that have pushed the vast majority of society below the poverty line, stating that private and state employers blatantly refuse to pay workers' wages, with hundreds of thousands of workers not receiving their meager wages for months. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, and the Retirees Union criticized the High Labor Council, which they described as having the duty to satisfy employers and the supporting capitalist government, adding that this council does not solve any of the workers' problems and does not bring any bread to the workers' table. These four independent labor and trade union organizations stated that the wages of the vast majority of workers are far below the poverty line, adding that raising the minimum wage for workers above the poverty line and to a wage suitable for a normal and average life is only possible through the tireless efforts and struggles of the workers themselves, unions, and independent labor organizations. Currently, the minimum monthly wage for workers is one million and 115 thousand tomans, while the High Labor Council's wage committee has announced the minimum livelihood basket for a household of three and a third persons to be three million and 760 thousand tomans. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the Coordination Committee to Help Establish Labor Organizations, and the Retirees Union considered the workers and their elected representatives as the competent authority for determining workers' wages, while stating that in Iran, unions and independent labor organizations are banned from discussing and negotiating wages, just as they are banned from other labor issues and activities. This statement referred to what has been called the whisper of a 20% wage increase for workers in 98, stating that with this increase, the minimum wage would reach about one million and 340 thousand tomans, but it would not remedy the wounds of Iranian working families. In this regard, the four independent labor and trade union organizations pointed out that for the past 40 years, workers' wages have always been about one-fifth of the amount needed to cover the average living costs of a typical urban household. They noted the rising cost of living and inflation rates, stating that the demand for a minimum wage of seven million tomans per month for the future is a reasonable request and devoid of any exaggeration.
14:02 1.12.1397 The family of Ismail Bakhshi gathers again in front of the Shush judiciary. The family of Ismail Bakhshi, a representative of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers, gathered on Wednesday in front of the Shush judiciary demanding his immediate release. According to the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, this is the second day of the family's gathering in front of the Shush judiciary. They had also gathered in front of the Shush judiciary on Monday. The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ismail Bakhshi, a member of this organization, and condemned the continued detention of this labor activist. Previously, following the family's visit to the Shush prosecutor's office, he had issued an order for the arrest of the mother of this labor activist. Reports indicate that following the agents' attempt to handcuff Ismail Bakhshi's mother, she fainted and was transferred to the hospital, thus nullifying the issue of her arrest. Ismail Bakhshi was first arrested in November along with 17 other Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers and civil activist Sepideh Gholian during strikes and protests by the Haft Tappeh workers. Among them, 17 detained workers were released after a few days, but Mr. Bakhshi was released after 25 days and Ms. Gholian after one month. After their release, they stated that they were tortured after their arrest in Shush and in the intelligence detention center of Ahvaz. However, government and judicial officials denied the torture allegations based on reports from the Ministry of Intelligence, which Mr. Bakhshi has complained about. Subsequently, Mr. Bakhshi and Ms. Gholian were arrested again on January 30. These security and judicial actions have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and labor unions.
19:50 30.11.1397 The Free Workers Union of Iran reported threats against the family of Jafar Azimzadeh and other members of this organization. The Free Workers Union of Iran reported on Tuesday in a statement about phone calls and threats against the family of Jafar Azimzadeh, the imprisoned chairman of the board of this organization, and other members of the Iranian Workers Union. According to this statement, unknown individuals contacted Mr. Azimzadeh's father-in-law and asked him to prevent his daughter from pursuing her husband's situation. Mr. Azimzadeh was arrested on February 9 in Pardis Karaj and transferred to Evin Prison to serve his six-year sentence. The Free Workers Union of Iran also noted that calls have been made to the families of other members of this organization to create fear and prevent these members from continuing their activities and informing. The statement also mentioned that more than two weeks have passed since Parvin Mohammadi, vice president of the board of the Free Workers Union of Iran, was transferred to Evin Prison, but her family has not been able to contact or visit her. Ms. Mohammadi was also arrested simultaneously with Jafar Azimzadeh in Pardis Karaj.
The Free Workers Union of Iran warned about the health of Parvin Mohammadi, holding the Islamic Republic government responsible for her life.
15:41 29.11.1397 The family of Ismail Bakhshi gathered in front of the Shush judiciary. The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company reported the gathering of Ismail Bakhshi's family, a member of this organization and a representative of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers, in front of the Shush judiciary on Monday. According to the report, a number of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers also participated in this gathering. The protesters, holding placards demanding Ismail Bakhshi's release, protested against his continued detention and the lack of information about this labor activist's situation. In this regard, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company indicated that the head of the Shush intelligence department threatened Ismail Bakhshi's mother, who was present at this gathering, but did not specify the nature of this intelligence official's threats. Earlier, the Shush prosecutor had issued an order for the arrest of his mother following the family's visit to the prosecutor's office on Sunday. Reports indicate that following the agents' attempt to handcuff Ismail Bakhshi's mother, she fainted and was transferred to a medical center due to her deteriorating health condition. This report has not yet been confirmed or denied by judicial officials. In this context, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company pointed out that Ismail Bakhshi's mother suffered a heart problem when the agents attempted to put handcuffs on her. Previously, the Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company announced on Saturday that Ismail Bakhshi is under pressure from the Ministry of Intelligence to deny his statements regarding being tortured in the Ahvaz intelligence detention center during his first arrest. He was arrested during the strikes and protests of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers and was released after 25 days. However, this labor activist was arrested again on January 30.
17:26 25.11.1397 "Not a rial of 280 million euros received" was spent in Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company. Bahram Parsai, spokesman for the 90th Commission of the Parliament, stated: According to investigations into the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane issue, we found that the total currency needed by the managers of this company was 12 million dollars, while some individuals received an amount of 280 million euros through collusion and presenting fake documents. According to reports from ISNA and ILNA news agencies, this parliament representative pointed out that not a rial of the 280 million euros received was spent for the intended purposes in the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company. Previously, the news of financial abuse by the private employer of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company and his arrest, along with the non-payment of four months' wages to the workers of this unit, led to their approximately one-month strike. During this strike, Ismail Bakhshi, along with 17 other Haft Tappeh Sugarcane workers and civil activist Sepideh Gholian, was arrested. Among them, all detainees were released, although Ismail Bakhshi was released after 25 days and Sepideh Gholian after one month. After their release, they stated that they were tortured after their arrest in Shush and in the intelligence detention center of Ahvaz. However, government and judicial officials denied the torture allegations based on reports from the Ministry of Intelligence, which Mr. Bakhshi has complained about. After that, Mr. Bakhshi and Ms. Gholian were arrested again. Meanwhile, the status of the private employer of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company remains unclear. While judicial officials have reported his arrest, government officials have spoken of his presence in meetings related to this agricultural and industrial unit.
13:58 25.11.1397 Teachers' protests in several cities in Iran. Teachers' unions reported that educators gathered on Friday in front of education departments in several cities in Iran. According to them, these protest gatherings took place in cities such as Sanandaj, Marivan, Kermanshah, Urmia, Ardabil, and Mashhad. The protesting educators demanded improvements in the living conditions of active and retired teachers, equalization of salaries for active and retired teachers, timely payment of retirement bonuses, free education for students, and the right to education in their mother tongue. They also protested against the treatment of teachers' union activists. Currently, Ismail Abdi, Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, Mohammad Habibi, Abdolreza Ghanbari, and Rouhollah Mardani are in prison on security charges. Security and judicial actions have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and labor and professional unions worldwide.
01:03 25.11.1397 "The monthly cost of a working family is three million and 760 thousand tomans." The wage committee of the High Labor Council reported on Wednesday that the total monthly cost...