Follow the latest labor and trade union events in Iran during September 2018 here every day.
The latest labor issues in Iran during September 2018 are being reported daily.
12:09 28.6.1397 "Workers' livelihood issues are serious" A member of the board of directors of the Supreme Labor Council of Iran stated: "Workers' livelihood issues are serious and their wages do not cover their expenses." According to ISNA news agency, Mohammad Reza Rahdari Zadeh pointed out that the prices of some goods have increased by 50 to 100 percent, making life conditions difficult for workers who face numerous livelihood problems due to rising prices. Reports indicate that workers' purchasing power has significantly decreased in recent months following a sharp decline in the value of Iran's national currency and rising prices.
20:23 27.6.1397 Sixteen workers from the Hepco factory in Arak summoned to court The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company reported that 16 workers from the Hepco factory in Arak have been summoned to Branch 106 of the Criminal Court of Arak. According to this labor organization, the summoned workers are accused of "propaganda against the regime, participating in illegal gatherings, and disturbing public order." Previously, ILNA news agency reported in June of this year that 10 protesting Hepco workers were summoned to judicial authorities. Typically, protesting workers face security charges and in some cases have been sentenced to prison. Over a thousand workers at this industrial unit have repeatedly gone on strike, marched, and gathered in protest of unpaid wages for several months and the factory's condition after being privatized. Workers from several large industrial factories in Iran that have been privatized are demanding the return of ownership of these units to the government. However, President Hassan Rouhani's government insists on continuing privatization policies.
17:06 27.6.1397 Three months of wages unpaid for workers of the National Industrial Steel Group Reports from the Free Workers Union of Iran indicate that several workers from the National Industrial Steel Group in Ahvaz have not received their wages for three months. According to these workers, next week will mark the fourth month of their wage arrears. Workers at this large industrial group have also expressed dissatisfaction with management and new appointments. The National Industrial Steel Group employs four thousand workers who have protested through strikes, marches, and gatherings over unpaid wages and wage arrears.
15:31 27.6.1397 Letter to Khamenei; Two Norwegian labor organizations demand the release of Mohammad Habibi The Confederation of Trade Unions and the Union of School Employees of Norway wrote a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, protesting the detention and imprisonment of Mohammad Habibi, a board member of the Iranian Teachers' Trade Association. According to the International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran, these two large Norwegian organizations stated that their letter was written in protest of the "gross violation of labor union rights" in Iran. They noted that several "activists of the independent labor movement in Iran have been harassed or imprisoned solely for their completely legitimate and legal labor activities" and added: "Mohammad Habibi, who has been sentenced to prison by the Revolutionary Court, has been banned from social and political activities, traveling abroad for two years, and has also been sentenced to 74 lashes." Mr. Habibi was arrested during a gathering of educators in front of the Organization of Planning and Budget in Tehran on May 9, and the letter states that he is "enduring extremely inhumane and intolerable conditions." The Confederation of Trade Unions and the Union of School Employees of Norway have stated that according to testimonies from Mr. Habibi's family members, he has been treated very poorly and urgently needs medical treatment, but responsible authorities continue to deny him treatment. These two Norwegian organizations called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammad Habibi and other labor activists in Iran, as well as the recognition of the right to organize. They warned Ayatollah Khamenei: "As long as your government does not recognize the internationally recognized rights of labor unions and other fundamental labor rights and freedoms in Iran, and as long as your government does not fulfill all obligations related to membership in the International Labour Organization, the global labor movement, including in Norway, will continue its global campaign in protest against these unacceptable and condemnable repressions."
12:08 27.6.1397 110 billion tomans debt of the government; Sanandaj municipality unable to pay its employees' wages The mayor of Sanandaj announced that "we are facing problems in paying our personnel's wages" and said: "The wages of the municipality's personnel for August have not yet been paid." According to Mehr news agency, Hashmatollah Sidi added: "It is unreasonable to expect that under the difficult working conditions and economic problems that are currently pressuring everyone, the personnel of the Sanandaj municipality should go months without receiving wages." He also pointed out that the municipality's revenues have significantly decreased and said: "We have a debt of 110 billion tomans, and we are facing problems in collecting them." According to this report, these claims are related to government agencies and departments. In recent months, many reports have been published regarding unpaid wages of workers in various regions of Iran. This situation has led to their labor protests.
11:42 27.6.1397 An unemployed worker in Sanandaj sentenced to prison for "insulting the leadership" The Free Workers Union of Iran announced that the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj sentenced Ahmad Amini, a laid-off worker from the Zagros Steel Factory, to six months in prison, which will be suspended for one year, on charges of "insulting the leadership." Mr. Amini, who had complained to the Labor Office and the Administrative Justice Court along with his colleagues after the closure of the Zagros Steel Factory in 2013, demanding the realization of claims such as the payment of hard work rights, was arrested in May of this year by the Sanandaj Intelligence Department on charges such as propaganda against the regime in favor of the opposition, membership in one of the opposition groups, and insulting the leader of the Islamic Republic. He was released after 20 days on a bail of 100 million tomans. According to this report, he was acquitted of the first two charges in court.
10:45 27.6.1397 Workers dissatisfied with registration fees in "Trustee Schools" Hamid Reza Imam Qolitab, an inspector of the Supreme Assembly of Representatives of Workers of the Country, criticized the registration fees in schools, especially "Trustee Schools," stating: "The tuition fees of these schools in the context of rising inflation, decreasing purchasing power, and increasing poverty are very difficult and the collection of exorbitant amounts by force and out of necessity has led to many protests among workers." According to Tasnim news agency, the so-called "Trustee Schools," which have been established in recent years and have seen a significant increase in their numbers, have added the title of trustee to their school signs to connect to a source of income through financial contributions from families and charge significant amounts for registration from families, ranging from 500,000 to 2 million tomans. Tasnim reported that the inspector of the Supreme Assembly of Representatives of Workers of the Country stated: "Unfortunately, amid the onslaught of rising inflation, decreasing purchasing power, increasing poverty, and widening class gaps, and dozens of small and large problems in the Iranian working community, registering children of workers in public (trustee) schools has become another serious challenge that has added to the problems of this sector in recent years during the summer season."
16:51 22.6.1397 "Employees' salaries cannot cover the minimum living standards" A member of the Budget and Planning Commission of the Parliament stated: "Employees' salaries cannot cover the minimum living standards." According to the House of Representatives news agency, Gholamali Jafarzadeh Iman Abadi said: "The poverty line has overshadowed the middle class. Therefore, low salaries must be increased." Reports indicate that in recent months, following the decline in the value of Iran's national currency, living costs have risen sharply, and the purchasing power of many people has decreased compared to the past.
16:48 22.6.1397 "Low wages" for workers in Shirvan The Deputy of Urban Development and Planning of the Shirvan Governorate stated: "The wages of workers in this district of North Khorasan, which has the highest number of wage earners due to the presence of factories and production units, are lower than the labor law." According to the state news agency IRNA, Samad Izanlou pointed out that workers in Shirvan have been wronged because any protest regarding low wages leads to their dismissal. He added that workers in Shirvan do not have insurance, receive very low wages, and are forced to continue their work. The minimum monthly wage for workers this year is 1,115,000 tomans.
16:47 22.6.1397 One hundred workers from Boroujerd municipality protested over eight months of unpaid wages About 100 workers from Boroujerd municipality gathered in front of the city council building demanding payment of their overdue wages. According to the state news agency IRNA, the wages of these workers have not been paid for eight months. In recent years, the non-payment of workers' wages in various regions of Iran has led to their labor protests.