A labor activist, quoted by Iran’s state-run news agency ILNA, criticized the dire conditions faced by the country’s workers. “The situation is grim,” they said. “Workers and their representatives are deeply dissatisfied with the Labor Minister’s performance and demand his impeachment.”
“Not only have worker problems not been addressed, but decisions made in the past two years have actually worsened their situation,” they continued. “Mr. Minister! Workers can no longer afford basic necessities, and the proposed 35% wage increase will only make things worse.”
Saeed Fatahi, head of the East Azarbaijan Workers’ Trade Unions, spoke to ILNA about his opposition to the 2024 wage resolution. “The Iranian Rial has collapsed, with the exchange rate exceeding 60 million tomans per US dollar. Despite promises to control inflation, employer and government representatives have only offered a meager 35% minimum wage increase,” he explained. “They completely disregarded even the official inflation rate announced by the central bank in February.”
“These representatives didn’t even agree to a raise based on last year’s inflation. How can workers survive with the current inflation and sudden price hikes?” Fatahi questioned. “Workers’ wages lose value every year. This year, we see another suppression of their income. By ignoring Article 41 of the Labor Law, inflation, and currency devaluation, we’re witnessing a further decline in purchasing power.”
“We keep hearing promises that this price bubble will burst, but nobody explains when the currency will stabilize,” Fatahi continued. “This, coupled with the minimal wage increase, has only amplified worker anxieties about the new year.”
He concluded by directly addressing the Minister: “Do you still claim worker wages cause inflation? Mr. Minister! Workers can barely survive, and a 35% raise will only worsen their situation.”
Dissatisfaction and Demands for Change
Currently, Iranian workers are deeply dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the livelihood crisis. Protests have even demanded the Labor Minister’s removal. However, some believe such actions won’t solve the underlying problems. The Minister, they argue, has not only failed to address existing issues but has actively worsened worker conditions through unfavorable policies.
Fatahi elaborated, “With this ongoing situation, workers may soon be unable to afford their children’s education. Their salaries fall far below the poverty line. Yet, the income tax exemption limit remains a meager 12 million tomans. This forces workers earning below the poverty line to pay taxes.”
Unequal Taxation and Corruption
Workers are burdened with taxes, while many wealthy regime officials and individuals involved in large-scale corruption cases enjoy tax exemptions. In essence, workers’ paychecks are taxed even before they receive them.
Vulnerability Under Oppression
Iranian workers, already one of the most disadvantaged groups under the current regime, face an increasingly precarious existence.
