Strike Continues at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company; Five Detained Workers Released

ILNA news agency reported on Thursday, July 27, the release of five detained workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company. According to the report, these workers were released on Wednesday after providing a commitment, although ILNA did not provide details about the content of this commitment. Nonetheless, the Iranian Free Workers Union reported that these workers were released on bail. Earlier reports indicated that several workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company were detained on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Haft Tappeh Workers Syndicate reported the detention of 20 workers, while the Iranian Free Workers Union reported 13 detentions, and ILNA reported 15. These detentions were carried out by law enforcement and security agents. Meanwhile, the Iranian Free Workers Union stated that they have no information on the status of the detained workers and reported that arrest warrants have been issued for 18 more workers. However, Reza Najati, the governor of Shush, told ISNA news agency that he was unaware of the workers' detentions. According to this labor organization, the workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company went on strike again on Thursday, stating that they would continue their protest due to the detention of their colleagues and the lack of attention to their demands. In the meantime, the private employer of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company has only paid half of several months of overdue wages to the workers. According to the Iranian Free Workers Union, the private employer has not even paid this amount to the detained workers. The workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company are demanding their wages for Ordibehesht and Khordad of this year, wages for Bahman and Esfand of 1394, eight months of last year's bonuses, and their bonuses from two years ago. They are also demanding the return of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company to government ownership. The failure to pay the workers' demands has led them to strike and gather multiple times in recent weeks. They have also blocked roads around the company several times in recent days. Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company was privatized in Esfand 1394, which drew criticism. For instance, the Aftab Yazd newspaper reported last year that Razi Noori, the representative of Shush Daniel in the parliament, had warned Ali Taebnia, the Minister of Economy, about the process of transferring Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company to two young men aged 28 and 31. This parliament member stated, 'Is transferring this large economic entity to two young men aged 28 and 31 without coordinating with provincial and county officials not equivalent to abandoning this entity? Is this the right thing to do?' He predicted that this transfer would 'cause multiple problems' for the workers of this economic entity. The treatment of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company workers has led to protests from several labor organizations, including the Iranian Free Workers Union, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers Syndicate, and the Syndicate of Metalworkers and Mechanics. The Labor Rights Defenders Center also issued a statement asserting that a security response to workers' demands will lead nowhere, calling for the payment of workers' demands, the release of detained workers, recognition of the right to form unions, and the freedom to strike. Additionally, Peter Rossman, head of the international section and campaign of the International Federation of Food, Agricultural and Allied Workers' Unions, stated on Wednesday to Radio Farda that this federation will file a complaint with the International Labour Organization if the detention of these workers continues.