Warning About the Consequences of 'Regional Wage'; Migration of Workers to Cities Intensifies

With the insistence of the government and employers to establish a 'regional wage', experts are warning about the consequences of this action, with some declaring that regionalizing wages will lead to 'wage suppression' and an increase in the migration of workers from villages to cities; a move that contradicts the government's 'decentralization' policy. The ILNA news agency quoted Saeed Fattahi, head of the Association of Trade Unions of Workers in East Azerbaijan Province, stating that such decisions will worsen the situation for workers. Fattahi pointed out the impact of 'regional wages' on increasing migration from villages to cities, noting that the minimum wage in Iran is around 8 million tomans, which is insufficient to cover even the household food basket. The proposal of 'regional wages' has sparked numerous reactions over the past month, with Mohammad Reza Tajik, a member of the 'Wage Committee' of the Supreme Labor Council, stating on January 18 that the livelihood basket should first be calculated, and wages should be determined based on that before considering regional and sectoral wages. The 'Retirees Union' also simultaneously wrote on its Telegram channel about the idea of 'regional wages', emphasizing that this 'anti-labor act will turn into a law of force and double exploitation, where in this unequal equation, the worker is disarmed from the beginning without any room for bargaining and agreement.' The first meeting of the Wage Determination Committee of the Supreme Labor Council on January 15 ended without results due to the insistence of the Ministry of Economy and other government representatives for 'regional wages' and wage determination based on industries, against the objections of worker representatives. Analysts believe that wage determination will be a significant issue in the coming months, and the government's insistence on regionalizing wages, even in the most optimistic scenario of agreeing to a 20% increase in the minimum wage, will create challenging days for workers. Protests against the government's approach; two members of the Supreme Labor Council: Regional wages will weaken workers. Opposition to 'regional wages' left the first meeting of the 'Wage Committee' without results. Continued opposition to the government's attempt to change the wage determination formula; a labor official: Conditions for implementing 'regional wages' are not met. A labor activist: Regional wages can only be implemented with the participation of 'real representatives' of workers. Intensified opposition to attempts to change the wage determination formula; a labor activist: 'Regional wages' will not benefit workers. Media criticism of 'negotiated wages'; the livelihood basket in Iran is less than 20 million tomans.