Retirees Protest 20% Salary Increase: It Doesn't Even Reach Half of the Poverty Line

On Thursday, November 2, ILNA reported that retirees are protesting a proposed 20% increase in their salaries for the upcoming year, deeming it unfair and stating that the increase does not even reach half of the poverty line. According to ILNA, concerns about the government's proposed salary increase are not limited to government employees and retirees. The news agency noted that a 20% salary increase could significantly reduce workers' bargaining power for wages in 2024. This comes at a time when workers have faced numerous livelihood challenges this year. Nonetheless, Minister of Labor, Solat Mortazavi, announced that wages are determined only once a year, thus ruling out any adjustments or increases. Meanwhile, retirees have repeatedly gathered in front of the offices of the National Retirement Fund in various cities across Iran, demanding that their salaries reach the poverty line and questioning why, after 30 years, their salaries should be below it. According to statistics provided by some members of parliament in recent months, the cost of living in Tehran is estimated to exceed 30 million tomans, while the cost of living in other major cities in Iran is estimated between 20 million and 25 million tomans. ILNA reported that with a 20% increase, a retiree's monthly salary next year would not even reach 11 million tomans, while inflation over the past two years has been significantly above 100%. The news agency quoted a retiree saying, 'Statistics don't matter; what I see in life is that everything has become two or three times more expensive. Even rent; this year landlords have raised rents by more than 50 or 60 percent; what about people like me? For years, after living in East Tehran, I have been living in Islamshahr; if I can't afford rent here either, where will I go in my old age, to set up a tent in a park?' The situation for retirees has been significantly worse than that of salary earners in recent years. According to Telegram channels belonging to retirees' and workers' organizations, retirees gather every Tuesday in front of the governor's office and other related government buildings to protest the non-implementation of the 'equalization law,' severe livelihood constraints, and the violation of their rights. Protests and strikes over livelihood issues by various professions and trades in Iran have continued for several years, including regular weekly protests by retirees from social security, telecommunications, educators, and state pensioners in various cities.