{"id":306715,"date":"2023-05-01T14:05:06","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T13:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=306715"},"modified":"2023-05-01T14:05:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T13:05:06","slug":"iran-workers-struggle-historical-roots-and-present-day-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/economy\/iran-workers-struggle-historical-roots-and-present-day-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran Workers’ Struggle: Historical Roots and Present-Day Challenges\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"iran-asaluyeh-oil-workers-strike\"<\/p>\n

May 1 marks International Workers Day, a worldwide and general occasion for protests. While workers\u2019 demonstrations in other countries aim at improving their situation, Iranian workers are trying to achieve their basic rights. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Strikes and protests by oil and petrochemical workers have been expanding across Iran recently. These workers demand their basic rights, such as a salary, in accordance with Iran’s skyrocketing inflation. Instead of addressing their problem, Iranian authorities have fired thousands of workers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“In this region, eight petrochemical projects have been struck by numerous seasonal workers who are protesting their dire livelihood circumstances. Despite the legal deadline, approximately 4,000 workers will be replaced by new recruits,” the state-<\/span>run Etemad Daily quoted<\/span><\/a> the Manager of Pars Petrochemical Complex on April 29.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, according to the paper’s reporter, “Shockingly, the actual number of protesting workers is suspected to be as high as 10,000 individuals. These protests are predominantly being carried out by contract workers within the oil industry, including welders, rebar makers, mold makers, painters, insulation workers, and scaffolders.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Iranian workers have been struggling to have their righteous share of one the world\u2019s richest nations, to no avail. Their situation has worsened in recent years due to Iran\u2019s unprecedented financial calamity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the state-run Arman-e Meli newspaper on April 26, \u201cIran\u2019s economy is plagued by serious issues that demand authorities\u2019 urgent attention. Average inflation rates have remained above 40% since 2018, with February point-to-point inflation exceeding 64%. Initial hopes and the miracle of a 10- to 15-point decrease in inflation without government intervention have not happened. Meanwhile, the volume of liquidity has increased from below 50 quadrillion rials to over 60 quadrillion rials within a year and a half.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this year, and despite much fanfare from the Iranian regime regarding a 27% salary increase for workers at the start of the Persian New Year in March, it was deemed ineffective given the country’s skyrocketing inflation. Shockingly, authorities have failed to honor their own promises.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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NCRI statement:
Iran: Workers in Oil and Petrochemical Industry Launch a Massive Strike Across Various Cities#IranRevolution<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/MmYoIlDjfD<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n