Tasnim Reports on Workers Living in Tents; Salaries Below 15 Million Tomans Indicate Poverty

While the head of the Union of Veteran Workers has deemed salaries below 15 million tomans as indicative of poverty, Tasnim news agency has also reported on the severe livelihood problems faced by workers. According to Tasnim's report, some workers are living in tents due to their inability to pay rent. The news agency also emphasized that government support for workers in the form of a minimum housing allowance is insufficient to cover even one night's rent. Tasnim stated that workers, unable to secure ownership housing, turn to rental housing, where 70 to 80 percent of a worker's salary goes towards housing, preventing them from meeting other essential needs such as food, healthcare, clothing, and education. Hassan Sadeghi, the head of the Union of Veteran Workers, described the workers' living conditions as dire, stating that the working class in Iran is in a poor situation due to wage suppression and contractionary policies regarding salaries. The crisis in the livelihoods of workers and a significant portion of the Iranian population comes at a time when government officials claim economic growth and improvement in indicators. This claim has been questioned by the newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad through a survey. The newspaper reported that despite official statistics indicating economic growth and increased employment, over 80 percent of respondents do not feel these positive changes in their lives. Donya-e-Eqtesad also emphasized that the level of inflation in the Iranian economy is so high that even if income reaches households due to economic growth, it is taken back by inflation. A review of data published by the Statistical Center of Iran also shows that inflation in Iran remains above 40 percent. In this context, on November 8, the Statistical Center continued to release economic reports, publishing a report on consumer price index changes in October of the current year and the average prices of selected food items in urban areas, which media outlets likened to a 'price explosion.' Labor activists have stated that the Chamber of Commerce's proposal for 'regionalizing wages' is detrimental to workers' rights. The Bushehr province, despite its vast energy reserves, ranks 18th in Iran's misery index. The decrease in the age of 'smugglers' due to poverty has led to dangerous gambles for 100 million tomans. The ongoing bread crisis is marked by denial of price increases and the closure of bakeries in the capital. The 'money-splashing' policy aimed at increasing the population has reached a deadlock, making 'childbearing loans' unattainable. A labor activist reported the rise of 'self-treatment,' indicating that 'workers' healthcare' is at risk.