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In a powerful show of global solidarity, several Australian labor unions and civil society organizations have issued a joint statement in support of Iranian workers’ struggle for basic rights, marking International Workers’ Day 2025.
The signatories include:
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The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) – Representing over 75,000 members, the IEUA is one of Australia’s largest unions in the education sector, advocating for teachers, support staff, and administrators across non-governmental institutions.
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The Edmund Rice Centre (ERC) – A human rights organization with UN consultative status, ERC has a long-standing mission to advance justice for Indigenous communities, asylum seekers, and populations affected by climate change.
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The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation – A leading Sydney-based charity founded in 1989 that supports homeless and disadvantaged populations with the help of over 1,500 volunteers, including 300 full-time.
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Crosslink Christian Network (CLCN) – A global Christian network of around 130 churches in Australia and 20–30 in other countries, founded in 1997.
Retired civil servants in Kermanshah and telecom workers in Sistan and Baluchestan protested over unpaid pensions and delayed wages. In Isfahan, Meymeh residents demanded law enforcement, while petrochemical workers in Bandar Mahshahr rallied against worsening work conditions. pic.twitter.com/MU2FcAjxOj
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 24, 2024
Dire Conditions for Iranian Workers
The statement cites Iranian state media and official statistics to highlight the severe plight of workers inside Iran:
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94% of workers are employed on short-term or informal contracts, leaving them with no job security or benefits, according to Jahan-e Sanat and Resalat newspapers.
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95% of workers don’t receive a copy of their employment contract, enabling employers to terminate them at will without severance.
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The regime does not recognize independent labor unions. Instead, it imposes state-controlled entities like the “Islamic Labor Councils,” which do not represent workers’ interests.
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Iran’s minimum wage for 2025 was recently set at 10 million tomans per month, while the basic cost of living exceeds 35 million tomans, according to state-affiliated media. This leaves millions of families unable to afford essentials.
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The daily newspaper Arman Emrooz noted in 2023 that some workers can’t afford to eat meat more than three times a year.
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According to Kar o Kargar Daily (Labor and Worker), around 40 workers die every week due to workplace accidents, often in mines and unsafe construction sites lacking regulatory oversight.
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A 2021 report by Farhikhtegan found that 20% of working women lost their jobs in a single year, highlighting severe gender discrimination in employment.
#Iran News: Fatal Rockfall at Bajestan Mine Marks Third Deadly Incident in Four Days Amid Ongoing Safety Crisis https://t.co/IJWdG7P3Ch
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 10, 2025
International Demands
The statement calls on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to blacklist the Iranian regime for its “systematic and ongoing violations of labor rights,” despite Iran being a signatory to key international labor conventions.
“Iranian workers have endured both monarchist and theocratic repression,” the statement reads. “They are denied the right to organize, forced to work under exploitative conditions, and paid poverty wages. These are not just labor violations—they are acts of structural violence.”
The Australian groups urge increased international pressure, including demands for:
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Recognition of independent labor unions
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Living wages indexed to the actual cost of living
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Enforceable workplace safety standards
#Iran News:
Tragic Deaths of 8 #Workers Within One Weekhttps://t.co/WRuWLu16O7— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 20, 2024
They also call on labor unions and rights groups worldwide to stand with Iranian workers, particularly as those who organize strikes or demand rights often face arrest, torture, or execution under Iran’s judiciary.
A Voice from the Labor Movement
The solidarity campaign comes as Iranian workers increasingly become a visible force of resistance inside the country. From oil workers to teachers and factory staff, labor protests have surged in recent years despite brutal crackdowns.
With Iran’s labor class under unprecedented duress, this Australian-led initiative sends a clear message: the global labor movement is watching — and standing with them.