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Iran Protests: Workers, Retirees, and Families Take to the Streets Amid Economic Hardships and Crackdowns

On October 11, 2024, protests and strikes continued across Iran, with workers, retirees, and families demanding better wages, job security, and basic rights. Demonstrations occurred in key industrial areas and southern oil-producing regions, highlighting the growing economic discontent under the regime’s mismanagement.

In Jam, Bushehr Province, employees living in residential blocks, joined by their families, held protests over low wages and illegal restrictions imposed by management. The workers and their families have expressed frustration over deteriorating working conditions, adding pressure on southern Iran’s oil sector.

On Siri Island, employees of the Iranian Offshore Oil Company resumed protests as authorities continue to ignore their demands for fair wage policies and improved working conditions. This protest follows weeks of unrest among oil workers in southern Iran, where dissatisfaction with economic conditions remains high.

In Yazd, workers from the Bafgh Iron Ore Company continued their strike, which began on October 9. They are demanding wage increases and more job security. The strike reflects a broader pattern of industrial unrest in central Iran, where laborers in critical industries are increasingly vocal about their economic struggles.

In Khuzestan Province, on October 10, a seasonal worker from the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Company attempted self-immolation after his contract was not renewed, allegedly due to a refusal by management to convert his seasonal contract into a full one. The worker, whose identity has not been released, suffered burns covering 50% of his body and is currently hospitalized in Ahvaz’s Taleghani Hospital. This tragic event underscores the growing desperation among workers who face economic uncertainty and a lack of job security.

On October 9, IRGC forces in Minab, Hormozgan Province, pursued a motorboat, resulting in the death of one Baluchi kulbar (freight carrier) and severe injury to another. Kulbars, who transport goods between Iran and neighboring countries due to limited economic opportunities, are frequently targeted by security forces in southeastern Iran. This latest incident reflects the ongoing repression of marginalized communities in the region.

In Lamerd, Fars Province, on October 9, employees of the Lamerd Cement Company protested outside the governor’s office, demanding overdue wages. Similarly, in Bafgh, Yazd Province, workers from the Choghart Iron Ore Mine continued their strike, demanding improved wages and working conditions.

On the same day, October 9, retirees from the Social Security Organization in Kermanshah held a demonstration outside the National Retirement Fund, chanting, “We’ve heard enough promises, but seen no action.” Families of municipal workers in Marivan also joined the protests, demanding unpaid wages and fair treatment for workers.

Meanwhile, on October 8, in Marivan, Kurdistan Province, municipal workers held a protest demanding their unpaid wages. The workers, joined by their families, gathered to call for the immediate payment of their salaries, which had been delayed for months. Their demands reflect the growing economic pressures on local government employees who struggle to support their families under deteriorating financial conditions.

On October 7, in Zanjan, housing applicants protested delays in the completion of their long-promised homes. The demonstrators, who had paid for housing units under a government-backed project years ago, expressed frustration with the authorities’ failure to deliver the homes as promised. They called for accountability and immediate action to resolve the prolonged delays, which have left many families in financial limbo.

These protests reflect the widespread frustration and desperation among Iranian workers, retirees, and families facing economic hardship and neglect. Despite crackdowns and attempts to suppress dissent, the unrest continues to grow, as more citizens demand justice, accountability, and an improvement in living conditions across the country.