One Thousand Workers' Protest at 'Hepco' Factory in Arak Marks One Month

The protest of one thousand workers at the 'Hepco Arak' factory, which began in response to privatization and unpaid wage claims, reached one month on Tuesday, February 6. ILNA news agency reported that the workers have marched several times in the streets of Arak during their month-long protests. According to the report, some workers set up tents in Arak's Shohada Square on Sunday, February 5, to demonstrate their protest. ILNA quoted sources from the Hepco factory stating that workers are protesting what they call 'the employer's indifference to their demands.' The report indicated that the problems for this production unit began when it was privatized in 2007, and 'due to the negligence of officials, not only have promises remained unfulfilled, but the pressure of problems has increased daily.' The 'Diyaar Aftab' website recently reported that workers are demanding the return of Hepco's ownership to the government. Previously, a Hepco worker told ILNA that the private shareholder bought the factory in 2007 for 700 billion rials and was supposed to pay 20% of this amount upfront, with the remainder to be paid in installments over four years and six months. However, according to this worker, more than five years have passed since the end of this shareholder's commitment, and he has no intention of paying his financial debts to the factory and its workers. The workers' gathering continues despite promises from government and provincial officials over the past month to meet their demands. Among these, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, issued an order to address the Hepco workers' issues upon arriving in Arak, coinciding with the workers' gathering, and a meeting was held with some officials from Markazi province. According to ILNA, based on the resolution of this meeting, the employer was obliged to pay all the workers' claims by the end of Esfand (March). Hepco workers also mentioned their request to separate the factory from the private sector, stating that the government agreed to review this matter. The government of Hassan Rouhani has repeatedly declared its commitment to privatization in the past. Meanwhile, reports have emerged in recent years indicating the dire conditions of a significant number of privatized factories. Concurrently with the Hepco workers' protests, reports indicate other labor protests in various regions of Iran. In this regard, ILNA reported that nearly 500 workers from the Tarzeh coal mine gathered due to unpaid wages and unanswered demands. One of the Tarzeh miners explained their problems, stating, 'We are over a thousand workers who have not received wages for four months, and despite holding several labor gatherings and approaching relevant officials, no change has occurred in our conditions.' Among the concerns for workers is the rumor of a renewed privatization of this mining unit. ILNA also reported that on the thirty-second day of protests by the workers of the Masjid Soleiman cement factory, the protesting workers stated that the employer threatened to dismiss them. Meanwhile, according to the workers, the employer has not paid their wages for four months. One worker told ILNA that 'the employer has issued a letter to the internal managers of the company, requesting that from February 9, all official, contractual, and subcontracted workers be prevented from entering this unit, and at the same time, this issue was communicated in a separate letter to the Masjid Soleiman Labor Office, requesting the establishment of unemployment insurance for the workers.' ILNA also reported that the labor protest of the workers of the Ney Bar Hajmi and retired workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry ended conditionally on Sunday, February 5. These protests had begun a week earlier, during which part of the agricultural and industrial workers' demands were met, and the employer promised to pay the wage arrears and bonuses for the years 2015 and 2016 for the Ney Bar Hajmi workers and retirees. According to ILNA, after that, the workers returned to their jobs. The Ettehad website, belonging to the Free Workers' Union of Iran, reported that the number of strikers was 1500, who gathered on Sunday at the entrance of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry to block entry and exit from the company. In this context, the strike of 3000 workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry has continued for more than two weeks since the Hepco workers' strike in Arak, while the gathering of workers at the Mohabad Agro-Industry has reached 40 days. A labor activist stated: 'Workers' wages run out in the first week.'