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The worsening conditions for Iranian workers
By IHRV | May 11, 2009
In previous years, most prominently in the past six years, with worsening conditions in living, working and benefits paid to workers, the voice of dissatisfaction among workers has grown louder. The government not only does not pay any attention to the workers’ demands, but rather tries to control workers by resorting to violence, arrests, imprisonment and entanglement with the court system. With the closure of many factories and small-scale production units, unemployment has reached its highest peak yet, and according to official figures prepared by the Economics Commission of the Islamic Parliament, the number of unemployed is estimated to be 12 million. Also, toward the end of President Mohammad Khatami’s administration, the Ministry of Intelligence began serious confrontations with union strikers, a policy that has been continued in the administration of Ahmadinejad. In the last two years, the extent of the labor confrontations has peaked to the extent that a score of workers have been arrested after each protest and sent to prisons. Clearly, with the start of International Labor Day held on May 1, the number of confrontations with labor movement representatives has also been on the rise.
Workers in Iran are denied the most important right, the right to form a union. Existing unions are also not allowed to go on strike or protest, despite the fact that article 26 of the constitution underscores that parties, societies, political groups, unions and Islamic councils or religious minorities are free to hold strikes or protests, as long as these protests do not undermine the independence, freedom, national unity and values of the Islamic Republic. No one can be banned from joining the unions or forced to join the unions. Accordingly, workers are allowed to form their syndicates, yet Islamic Republic authorities have not issued a permit to form a syndicate through the political desk in the Ministry of State for the past thirty years. Only “Worker House”, a semi-governmental establishment, has been allowed to engage in labor-related activities.
On the other hand, the poverty line in Iran is 850.00 USD, and many workers make less than this amount; the minimum wage is set at 275.00 USD while the rate of inflation runs around 20%. These facts alone have caused widespread labor unrest, and protests aimed at poor living conditions. On the other hand, there have been delays in making on-time salary payments and proper payments of overtime and bonuses. At the present time, 80% of workers are employed under temporary contracts and many have demanded cancellation these short-term contracts. Additionally, workers have been demanding job security, recognition of difficult and hazardous jobs, ensuring job safety at the sites, elimination of taxes paid on New Year bonuses, the establishment of labor organizations, an end to police confrontations with protesting workers and the removal of constraints on labor activists. Also, the workers demand respect for their dignity and their rights as citizens.
According to the weekly Amir Kabir Newsletter, ninety workers with membership in the Labor Coordination Committee have been arrested, while Mansour Esonlo and Ebrahim Madadi, members of the Suburban Bus Syndicate in Tehran, are still being held in prison. Additionally, according to a sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court in the city of Sanandaj, a member of the Independent Labor Union, Tabib Molai, has been sentenced to a one-year imprisonment. Also, members of the labor syndicate from Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Plant have been sentenced to a one-year jail term, six months of which has been suspended.
Topics: analysis |