On December 30, 2020, Iranian citizens continued their protest against systematic corruption and the regime’s plundering and profiteering policies in different cities. In this respect, employees, workers, students, and unemployed youths held at least six rallies and strikes.
The continuation of social protests is an obvious sign of public distrust about the regime’s administrative apparatuses, while the people see no way for achieving their inherent rights but raising their voices.
Rally of Abfar Workers
In Khuzestan province—a group of employees and workers of ‘Abfar’ Rural Water and Sewage Organization in Andika county held a rally, protesting officials for failing to pay their wages and pensions.
In their rally in front of Abfar Office, impoverished employees and workers announced that the regime has yet to pay their insurance rights for three years, regular salaries for one year, and severance paychecks and pensions for five years.
Haft-Tappeh Workers’ Strike
In Khuzestan province—mechanical equipment workers of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Complex in Shush county stopped working and staged a strike denouncing officials’ oppressive behavior. In recent years, Haft-Tappeh workers frequently vented their anger against corruption by the CEO and managing board.
They protested the regime for allocating the company to corrupt persons under the pretense of ‘privatization.’ Since privatizing Haft-Tappeh, corrupt CEO Omid Assad-Beigi deprived workers of their inherent rights. On the other hand, government officials strongly supported Assad-Beigi and used the State Security Forces (SSF) to disperse workers’ peaceful rallies and strikes and arrest activists.
Despite all oppressive measures, workers extended their strike for over 70 consecutive days, forcing high-ranking officials, including Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi, and Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri to support the protesters’ demands orally.
Currently, the corrupt managing board is seemingly taking revenge on workers’ protests. In this respect, the company has registered the prison period of four detained protesters as absent in their annual wage receipts.
Following this unfair behavior, mechanical equipment workers gathered in front of the bureau of equipment management for an hour and demanded to know the reason. The bureau announced that they have filled timesheets and sent them off. However, authorized manager Hossein Amili registered their condition as absent.
Afterward, workers gathered in front of Amili office but there was no one to respond to the protesters. Notably, in late October, outraged employees and workers forced the sacking of Amili and another manager Saberian from the facility due to their inhuman and oppressive decisions and performances.
Siman-e Jovin Workers’ Protest
In Razavi Khorasan province—employees and workers of the cement factory of Siman-e Jovin denounced their managers for not implementing the Job Evaluation plan. They also protested the government’s policies in selling fuel to this complex.
“We are workers of Siman-e Jovin factory in Razavi Khorasan province. For some years, we have pursued the implementation of the Job Evaluation Plan in this producing unit. The Labor Law also emphasized the necessity of implementing the job Evaluation plan in workplaces with more than 50 workers. However, the plan still remains unexecuted,” workers announced.
Rally of Urmia Medical Sciences University Students
In Western Azarbaijan province—students of Urmia Medical Sciences University held a rally, protesting unreasonable changes in tests’ protocols.
During the latest round of examinations, the university suddenly and irrationally limited the time for answering questions. Students also protested the university’s negligence about their internet-related dilemmas and failing to provide appropriate protective items for interns.
Unemployment Youths’ Protest
In Tehran province—dozens of unemployed youths held a rally in front of Social Security Organization Branch 1, protesting the regime’s failure to provide jobs for youths. “No Food, No Fear,” chanted protesters in their rally.
In recent months, due to the country’s dire economic conditions and the mullahs’ destructive policies, citizens time and again demonstrated their readiness for another round of anti-regime protests. “No Food, No Fear,” is a common slogan constantly echoed among ordinary citizens and circulated on social media.
Rally of Municipal Workers
In Khuzestan province—a group of municipal workers and sweepers staged a rally, protesting the municipality’s failure to pay their delayed wages. In their rally at Abadan Municipality’s central building, protesters showed their ire against officials’ indifference to months of unpaid salaries for workers.
Iranian People Continue Protests; at Least Eight Rallies and Strikes on December 29
