More than 3,000 Strikes and Protests in one Year in Iran
Some sources put the number of workers' protests at up to 3,000. Yes, it is difficult to believe this volume of protests and strikes, but it is true. In the earlier year, we had nearly 2,000 labor strikes in Iran. The number of workers' protests has been increasing year by year for years. All these strikes and protests take place in a situation where the strike is considered illegal by the regime, the activities of the unions are severely suppressed, and the union activists are sometimes sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. They are also sentenced to flogging and fines, dismissal, and deprivation of social activity.
Intensification of Repression and Punishments
For some time now, the courts have increased the punishment of union activists and leaders. They try and convict more. In some cases, defendants' attorneys are barred from appearing in court and sometimes lawyers are sentenced to prison for refusing to comply with requests and threats from security forces. Currently, ten active members of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Cultural Associations are in prison, several others are on trial, and a number are awaiting sentencing in the courts where they have been tried.
In the past year, there have been eleven nationwide strikes and protests in at least 150 cities at the invitation and leadership of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Cultural Associations which has been able to grow into a nationwide union despite restrictions and repression, with the participation of tens of thousands of teachers. Their demands were to increase the salaries of teachers and staff in the education sector, to stop privatization, free education, educational justice and public education programs, to build schools in remote and deprived areas, and to release imprisoned teachers.
Spread of Protests and Strikes
The root of the spread of labor protests lies in economic and social policies and the efforts of the market-oriented conservative regime to disenfranchise the workforce and to suppress and tyranny.
The reason for these protests, as well as the demands of the protesters, are generally similar: Wage increase commensurate with the real cost of living, timely payment of wages without delay, acceptance of the right to strike and organize legally, efficient and free health insurance, cessation of protectionist and social laws, release of imprisoned trade union activists, job creation, dissolution of contracting companies and labor brokers and ensuring job security, stopping privatization, and eliminating gender and wage discrimination.
The essence of the regime’s socio-economic policies is inspired by neoliberal policies. Privatization of public institutions continues at a rapid pace. Most public institutions have so far been or are being divested to the private sector, which is in fact affiliated with the regime.
Repeal of Protectionist and Social Laws
Most social and protectionist laws have been repealed. The policy of freezing wages has been in place for years, resulting in a decline in the standard of living of about 60% of the population below the absolute poverty line.
Rising Prices and Inflation
The latest official inflation rate announced a month ago is 40.2 percent.
Unemployment
Economic participation, according to the latest official statistics, is 40.9 percent, which has decreased compared to last year (half a percent). The official unemployment rate is 9.4 percent, 38.1 percent of university graduates are unemployed, and the official unemployment rate for women who have registered to find a job is 27.8 percent in the regime statistics. At the same time, the total share of women in employment in the country is 15%. Experts put the real unemployment rate at 20 percent and the female unemployment rate at 38 percent.
Ninety-Three Percent of Workers Work on a Temporary Contract
Only 5 to 7 percent of workers have permanent and official jobs, the rest have short-term employment contracts. Employers are allowed to fire their workers whenever they want.
Delay in Payment of Wages
Another growing problem for workers is the non-payment of their wages on time. Sometimes the delay in the payment of wages in the private sector is a year or more. Labor agencies and other regime agencies do not handle workers' complaints against employers and support employers and their interests.
Elimination of Subsidies for Basic Goods
The gradual elimination of subsidies, which began many years ago, has gained unprecedented momentum over the past year, leaving fewer goods for the government to subsidize. The elimination of subsidies on basic imported goods has led to a sharp increase, sometimes up to the multiplication of the prices of medicine, meat and other protein materials, bread, sugar, rice, oil, etc. and access to them has become more difficult for most employed and retired wage earners.
Drop in Women' Share of Employment and Intensifying Discrimination and Pressure on Them
Wage and other discrimination between men and women is high. This discrimination is also recognized and practiced by the regime. Most women working in the non-governmental and contractual sectors are not covered by legal protections. Discrimination in the contractual sector is far more severe than in the official sector. Most private institutions set conditions before hiring women that in practice deprive them of many natural rights, such as marriage and having children. Inexpensive or free nurseries and daycare are not available in most workplaces. And in many cases, employers refuse to let women go back to work after maternity leave. In government offices and institutions, men are given priority when hiring. Sexual harassment is also common among women.
Spread of Child Labor
The number of working and street children is increasing and their age is decreasing year by year. There are now millions of labor and street children in the country, many of whom are under 8 years old. The reasons for the increase in the number of working children are low wages and the spread of poverty and unemployment, high cost of living and the monetization of public schools, formalization of child labor, and violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Spread of Discrimination against Migrant Workers
The number of migrant workers in Iran is not known for sure. Unofficial statistics put the number of workers, the vast majority of whom are from Afghanistan, at 2 to 3 million. After the Taliban returned to power, the influx of Afghan refugees from Afghanistan has increased despite increasing pressure and restrictions. Unemployment of 20% in Iran and intense competition for employment have exacerbated pre-existing discrimination against migrant workers. Migrant workers are forced to work for lower wages, work in more difficult conditions, work longer hours for the small wages they are paid, and are completely deprived of insurance and other protection laws.
Working Group of the Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian)
April 18, 2022
Contact addres: international@LPI-PF.org
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