On the occasion of International Labor Day, workers in Iran once again flooded onto the streets in 20 cities protesting the government’s oppressive and plundering policies. Iranian laborers vented their anger over officials’ unkept promises and flawed performances.
The government’s failures have brought poverty and misery to around 13.78 million workers and their families consisting of at least 55 million of Iran’s population.
Workers in Iran took to the streets marking #LabourDay2021 in 20 cities, 15 provinces. They vented their anger over the regime's destructive and plundering policies, which have placed Iranian laborers in poverty and misery.
"We will no longer vote as we heard many lies"—Workers pic.twitter.com/2oXRzUv9IZ— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) May 2, 2021
“Protest rallies took place in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Borujerd, Arak, Bojnurd, Khorramabad, Ilam, Ahvaz, Rasht, Sari, Isfahan, Qazvin, Maragheh, Shush, Shahinshahr, Neyshabur, and Qom, from 15 provinces. In Tehran, protesters gathered in front of the regime’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and in other cities, there were gatherings in front of the social security offices,” stated the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
In the capital Tehran, workers held a rally in front of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs despite a heavy presence of the State Security Forces, plainclothes, and intelligence agents affiliated with the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
In Tehran, workers who had gathered in front of the Labor Ministry to mark #LaborDay2021 faced a heavy presence of police and plainclothes forces.
Not only the regime in Iran does not recognize workers' inherent rights but also deprived them of honoring #LabourDay. pic.twitter.com/nxXUMOPyUM— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) May 1, 2021
The government had deployed buses and cages to transport detainees and to create a sense of fear among protesters. However, laborers continued protests defying officials’ threats and oppressive measures. Security forces finally arrested dozens of protesters but could not disperse outraged workers.
On #workersday2021, Iranian workers continued #IranProtests by gathering in front of the Ministry of Labor in Tehran despite a heavy presence of security forces.
More about workers' conditions in Iran:https://t.co/saNH0fqOkt pic.twitter.com/Ap7iurykWP— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) May 1, 2021
“Down with the oppressor, hail to the workers,” “Political prisoners must be freed,” “Students, teachers, and workers, unite,” “Enough is enough, both the parliament and the government are deceiving the nation,” “Shame on this insolent government,” “We will not vote anymore, we have heard enough lies,” “Workers will die, but will never accept humiliation,” protesters chanted.
Furthermore, retirees and pensioners affiliated with the Social Security Organization joined laborers in many cities showing their solidarity with impoverished workers. Workers in Haft-Tappeh, Khuzestan province, carried a banner, writing, “Happy workers day, a day for alliance and solidarity among workers across the globe for being free from sufferings.”
On the occasion of #workersday2021, workers in Haft-Tapph, Khuzestan, rallied declaring their solidarity with other tailor strata.#HappyWorkersDay, a day for alliance and solidarity among workers across the globe for being free from sufferings—Banner
More:https://t.co/XN1s5K7TBm pic.twitter.com/WZokf8ksyr— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) May 1, 2021
In Mashhad, the capital of the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan, workers and retirees gathered in front of the Social Security Organization’s local office, chanting, “Workers, unite, unite.”
Iranian workers in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, gathered in front of the Social Security Organization to mark #workersday2021.
In Iran, the majority of working families live below the poverty line.
More about workers' living conditions in Iran:https://t.co/saNH0fqOkt pic.twitter.com/Tqc3S5tCXC— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) May 1, 2021
In the working city of Arak, the capital of Markazi province, workers along with retirees took to the streets venting their anger over the government’s economic failures. In recent months, workers of HEPCO staged several gatherings at the HEPCO site and even in front of the Parliament (Majlis) urging officials to aid the company to resume its activities. However, neither the government nor Majlis pays attention to workers’ demands and difficulties.
In Arak, Markazi province, workers and retirees gathered marking #workersday2021.
According to official sources, the poverty line in Iran has reached $400-520 while workers' minimum monthly wage is around $160 based on the Parliament's bill.
More:https://t.co/evpTsrrcoj pic.twitter.com/STjehRGvrq— Iran News Update (@IranNewsUpdate1) May 1, 2021
“Hail to Iran’s workers who defied repressive measures and held their Labor Day protests. They expressed detestation of the clerical regime of ‘plunderers and enemies of workers,’” said NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi, urging, “all advocates of workers’ rights to take immediate action to release the arrested workers.”
I urge all advocates of workers’ rights to take immediate action to release the arrested workers. #Iran #InternationalWorkersDayhttps://t.co/gVj3ccU3NT
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 1, 2021