Workers' Protest at Mahabad Agricultural and Industrial Complex Reaches 40 Days

ILNA reported on Tuesday, January 17, that the workers' protest at the Mahabad Agricultural and Industrial Complex over the non-payment of their 16 months of wage arrears has reached 40 days. The protesting workers stated that 'despite long protests and repeated visits to all responsible officials' at the county and Kurdistan provincial levels, no one is responding to them and 'only empty promises are given.' According to the news agency, on the 37th day of their protest, the police ordered the workers to dismantle their tents, describing their camping as 'illegal.' However, despite this, they continued their protest. Previously, ILNA reported that about 100 workers from the Mahabad Agricultural and Industrial Complex had set up tents in front of the factory and on the main road. The news agency noted that on Saturday, January 14, a meeting was held at the Mahabad governor's office with the presence of the governor, workers' representatives, and the new employer of the Mahabad Agricultural and Industrial Complex, which ultimately did not reach a 'clear result,' and the timing for the payment of the workers' claims was not determined. One of the workers' representatives who attended this meeting told ILNA: 'The new employer and officials say there is no liquidity; however, it must be asked if there is no liquidity, how could the new employer purchase the complex at auction, but now when it comes to paying the workers' claims, they say there is no liquidity.' The Mahabad Agricultural and Industrial Complex was transferred about 16 months ago through auction. In recent months, many reports have been published in Iranian media regarding the problems of industrial and production units after being transferred to the private sector. These reports indicate that workers in these units have not received their wages and benefits for months. This situation has led workers in factories across various regions of Iran to strike, protest, and march due to unpaid wages, work benefits, layoffs, and their insurance rights or factory closures. In this context, ILNA reported that about a week has passed since the labor protest of nearly a thousand workers at the Hepco factory in Arak. According to this report, workers have gathered in the factory premises during working hours, and simultaneously, the activities of the Hepco factory have been halted. A Hepco worker stated on Sunday, January 15, that the protesting workers are demanding clarity on the payment status of five months of overdue claims and the separation of the factory from the private sector, adding that the factory management and officials of the Central Province have not provided a clear response to these demands. According to this worker, the private shareholder of the Hepco factory purchased this unit in 2007 for 70 billion tomans and was supposed to initially pay 20% of this amount, with the rest to be paid in installments over four years and six months. However, more than five years have passed since the end of his commitment, and he has no intention of paying his financial debts to the factory and its workers. Previously, some websites reported that the workers of Avangan Company in Arak protested last week due to the non-payment of 27 months of their wages and benefits in front of the factory. Additionally, over 500 workers from one of the contracting companies at the Persian Gulf Star Refinery went on strike last week and gathered in the refinery area. ILNA also reported on another protest on Tuesday by a group of workers from Gilana Tile Factory in front of the Rudbar governor's office. This protest was held in response to the cessation of operations at this production unit due to accumulated debts to government entities and the workers' concerns about their job future. They were also protesting the non-payment of their wages since June. According to this report, 110 workers are employed at the Gilana Tile Factory.