Widespread protests and strikes continued across Iran on November 5, 2024, underscoring the escalating economic and social discontent among various professional groups and retirees. From healthcare professionals to oil workers, the protests reflect the deepening frustration with the government’s failure to address longstanding demands.
In Yazd, central Iran, nurses at multiple hospitals, including Sadoughi Hospital, persisted in their protests for better wages and working conditions. The strike has severely impacted hospital operations, with reports indicating that only emergency procedures are being carried out and routine patient care has been disrupted. The nurses voiced their frustration with slogans such as “Enough with empty promises; our tables are empty” and “Where did our pay go? Into whose pockets?”
Shiraz saw its own gathering of healthcare workers as nurses and medical staff at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences held a protest, highlighting poor pay and untenable working conditions. Their protest follows a series of demonstrations aimed at drawing attention to the critical condition of healthcare workers who are burdened by low pay and insufficient support.
More footage of protests by nurses in Shiraz.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/CIbxKI89W7
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 5, 2024
In Ahvaz, located in southwest Iran, employees of the Arvand Oil & Gas Company gathered to protest against poor working conditions and insufficient wages. This demonstration is part of a broader movement involving oil and gas sector workers who are increasingly vocal about their frustration over unfulfilled promises from both company management and government authorities.
The workers’ protest emphasized the critical need for fair compensation and improved safety standards in an industry that is vital to the nation’s economy but often overlooks the welfare of its employees.
November 5—Iran
Contract workers of South Pars Gas Company hold 14th week of rallies to protest wages and poor working conditions and lack of response by authorities.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/L2X59stanc— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 5, 2024
In Zanjan, loggers organized a protest rally, showcasing the financial strain faced by those involved in local industries. Meanwhile, workers in Ilam from the Road Maintenance Department gathered to protest deteriorating contract conditions and stagnant wages. These workers highlighted the eight-month-long period without formal contracts and reductions in their pay by as much as five million tomans.
Further south, in Bushehr, nurses joined in by rallying against the economic conditions that have worsened due to inflation and unpaid dues. These demonstrations mirrored the sentiment seen in other parts of the country where healthcare workers have called for urgent government action.
Meanwhile, crackdown incidents continue to draw attention to the government’s heavy-handed response to unrest. On November 3, security forces raided a house in Golshahr, a neighborhood in Lashar County, Sistan and Baluchestan province, resulting in one death and the injury and arrest of two others. This follows a pattern of forceful actions in ethnic regions, leading to increased tensions and accusations of discriminatory practices by authorities.
More footage of protests by nurses in Yazd.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/7iO1zdxZjX
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 5, 2024
The protests are not limited to healthcare and industrial workers. In Kermanshah, retirees gathered to demand better pensions and basic services. Their chants, such as “No more war; we need lasting welfare,” encapsulated the disillusionment shared by many pensioners across the country. Retirees in other regions, including Isfahan, Shiraz, and Bijar, joined similar demonstrations.
November 5—Ahvaz, southwest Iran
Employees of the Arvand Oil & Gas Company rally to protest poor working conditions and low wages.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/xjMhy0rA6x— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 5, 2024
The recent wave of protests across Iran underscores the deepening economic and social crisis faced by various professional and labor groups. From nurses and oil company employees to retirees and municipal workers, these demonstrations reflect widespread dissatisfaction with inadequate wages, poor working conditions, and unmet promises from government authorities. The persistence of these protests highlights the Iranian regime’s failure to address the legitimate demands of its citizens and underscores the urgent call for systemic change and justice across the nation.
