Continued Protest Gathering of Employees at the 'Aghajari Oil and Gas Company'; We Demand the Elimination of 'Oppressive' Laws

Official employees of the Ministry of Oil at the Aghajari Oil and Gas Operating Company gathered in protest against the unmet demands, similar to previous days. In recent weeks, protest gatherings by official employees of the Ministry of Oil have been held at operational centers, including the Continental Oil Company on Khark Island, Ahvaz, and Siri. The complete removal of salary caps and restrictions on retirement benefits, the return of excess tax deductions, the full implementation of Article 10, and 'refraining from encroachment' on the oil workers' pension fund are among the demands of the oil employees. Article 10 of the 'Duties and Powers of the Ministry of Oil' law, which was approved about 10 years ago but has not been implemented, states: 'The administrative and employment systems and the payment of salaries and benefits for those employees of the Ministry of Oil's subsidiary companies who work in operational and specialized units, with a competitive approach and accelerating the exploitation of shared fields and maintaining specialized human capital, are subject to a specific regulation that, without being obliged to comply with the Civil Service Management Law, is prepared with respect to other relevant laws and regulations and with the proposal of the Ministry of Oil and the approval of the President's Deputy for Management Development and Human Capital, and must be approved by the President within six months after this law comes into effect.' Javad Owji, the Minister of Oil, announced on March 2 of last year that Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, agreed to implement Article 10 of the oil industry employees' salary law. However, this article has not yet been implemented. Meanwhile, several independent labor organizations issued a joint statement supporting the demands and protests of oil employees over the past two months. The joint statement noted that oil workers, inspired by the weekly protests of social security and government retirees, including teachers and telecommunications workers, are gathering in various cities. The signatories of the statement added that oil workers are organizing their protests, and there is no doubt that employing this method of protest will empower their struggles. The Union of Retirees, the Association of Electrical and Metal Workers of Kermanshah, the Painters' Syndicate of Alborz, the Iranian Retirees Council, the Committee for Following Up on the Creation of Labor Organizations, the Voice of Iranian Women, and the Independent Voice of Workers of the National Steel Group noted in their joint statement that organizing official oil workers will not only strengthen struggles in the oil sector but will also significantly impact the empowerment of protests and the unification of all workers across all production, project, and service sectors against employers and the 'supportive government system.' According to these organizations, the productive sector in the oil industry is the lifeblood of government revenue, and the outcome of any victory and success of oil workers will pave the way for victories and successes of workers in all other sectors. Protests by social security retirees in Ahvaz: 'We will not live under oppression.' Protests by social security retirees in Shush: 'We want nothing but our rights, not government charity.' Protests by cultural and social security retirees in Kermanshah: 'Our demand this time is for livelihood and healthcare.' Protests by nurses in Urmia: 'Nurse, shout out your rights!' Continued protests by retirees in several cities in Iran: 'We have seen no justice, because we have heard so many lies.'