The Topic of 'Increasing the Minimum Wage for Workers' Removed from the Agenda of the Supreme Labor Council Meeting

ILNA news agency reported that the Supreme Labor Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20, but 'once again, the issue of wage restoration is not on the official agenda of the meeting.' According to the report, in the invitation received by 'worker members' of the council, the main topic of the meeting is 'addressing workers' housing.' Previously, the meeting on November 29, which is responsible for determining the minimum wage for workers covered by labor law, was held without making any decisions regarding widespread protests about low wages compared to the cost of living. ILNA quoted Mohsen Bagheri, identified as a worker representative in this council, stating: 'It was decided that the wage restoration discussion would be examined in meetings with the presence of representatives from both sides; the government, employers, and workers in a technical manner, and ultimately a formal wage restoration meeting would be held at the end of November.' Payam Shajirati, a labor activist residing in Germany, told Voice of America that the government is truly indifferent to the livelihood challenges of the people and is not taking steps to address economic problems. In this context, Solat Mortazavi, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, and other officials from this ministry and the Planning and Budget Organization have repeatedly opposed increasing workers' wages; this opposition has been supported by employer representatives. Currently, the minimum wage for workers covered by labor law, who are married and have children, with benefits, is about 8 million tomans per month. However, according to reports published by official news agencies of the Islamic Republic, hundreds of thousands of workers employed in small workshops known as 'understairs' are deprived of receiving even this wage. Payam Shajirati noted that this year, the minimum wage for a worker covered by labor law is 5 million and 308 thousand tomans, adding: 'Comparing the dollar value of this amount shows that in Farvardin this year, a worker's wage was equivalent to about 120 dollars, while now, in Aban, the value of this wage has dropped to less than 100 dollars. In simple terms, in a six-month period, the value of a worker's wage has fallen by one-fifth.' This is while, he emphasizes, 'hunger, poverty, and misery are rampant in society, and we witness gatherings and protests by workers, wage earners, and retirees almost every day.' Media reported 'absolute misery'; eggs have become the only food for workers. A newspaper exposed the coercion of 'student teachers' to teach for an hourly wage of 18 thousand tomans. A government-affiliated news agency acknowledged that workers' wages cover only 40% of living expenses. Economic experts noted that public dissatisfaction is increasing due to livelihood problems. A worker member of the Supreme Labor Council stated: 'We demand wages based on different industries.' The indifference of the Ministry of Labor and the 96% population of temporary contract workers.