Response of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company to Worker Suicide News: Do Not Fuel Rumors

The public relations department of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, following the news of the suicide and death of a seasonal worker at the complex, announced that this matter is under special investigation by the Shush police department and requested "everyone to refrain from fueling rumors." In their announcement published on Wednesday, March 1, there was no mention of the reason for Ali Naqdi's death. The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers' Syndicate and ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday that this seasonal worker committed suicide in the water pumping channel of Haft Tappeh after the financial department of the complex refused to pay an advance. ILNA quoted one of Ali Naqdi's colleagues on Tuesday, stating that he "had entered the camp hours before his suicide and informed his colleagues about the fruitless pursuit of his demands, expressing that he was tired of this situation and wanted to commit suicide so that perhaps the company officials would consider the long-standing demands of his colleagues." This worker pointed out that "the officials of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company have not deposited our retirement costs into the Social Security account for years, despite the government's resolution, leaving us seasonal workers in uncertainty." Previously, ILNA had reported that seasonal workers have been in an unclear situation for several months due to delays in their wages. Workers at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company have faced issues with unpaid wages and benefits in recent years, leading to their protests. Meanwhile, Telegram channels of labor organizations in Iran reported that hours after Ali Naqdi's suicide and death on Tuesday, the management of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company announced that the payroll for the workers for the month of December would be distributed. Additionally, the Free Union of Iranian Workers reported that a number of workers at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company spread empty tables in the area of the unit in protest against the non-payment of their wage demands.