Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, August 21, 2020—On Thursday, August 20, marking the twentieth day of the strike launched by workers of Iran’s oil and gas refineries, petrochemicals and power plants, reports indicate more than 3,000 workers of the IGC refinery in the city of Dehloran in Ilam province, western Iran.
These workers joining others on the twentieth day of the strike is a sign of victory, unity and solidarity among the protesting workers to realize their basic rights and their salaries, which have so far been violated and plundered by the mullahs’ regime.
The protesting workers are insisting they will not return to work and that this strike will continue until their demands are met. They are now on strike in 24 cities across 12 provinces.
The protests started due to hard working conditions, delayed wages, and the corrupt practices of Iranian regime authorities in managing the oil facilities. The regime has tried to dampen the mood by making short-term promises such as paying some of the unpaid wages, but the workers insist on continuing their protests until some fundamental changes are made.
Day 67 of strikes by workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company
Protests by workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane company
On Thursday, August 20, workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company continued their protest rally in front of the governorate in the city of Shush in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. The strike has continued for 67 days. The protesting workers insist on continuing the strike and maintaining their unity until their demands are met.
The most important issues raised by these workers during this strike are as follows:
- Immediate payment of delayed paychecks and renewal of their insurance booklets
- Immediate return to work for fired colleagues
- Immediate arrest of Omid Assadbeigi (CEO of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Complex) and life imprisonment for this corrupt individual
- Immediate dismissal of corrupt employers from Haft Tappeh
- Immediate return of embezzled wealth to the workers
- Ending the careers of already retired managers
Workers of the Saveh Profile Company, Qazvin Counter Factory and shopkeepers’ protest
Protest rallies by workers of Saveh Profile Company and Qazvin Counter Factory
On Thursday, August 20, workers of the Saveh Profile Company gathered in front of the regime’s Labor Department in the city Saveh, located southwest of Tehran, protesting officials’ refusal to implement the regime’s own Hard and Harmful Jobs Law that at least provides minimum safety protection for these workers.
“According to the decisions of the initial committee held by the Labor Office, the subject of their hard work has not been confirmed while the workers of this company are working in difficult conditions,” said the protesting workers.
They added that if the law is not implemented, workers will retire and no longer enjoy any benefits or pensions despite their hard work.
It is worth noting that, according to the Hard and Harmful Labor Law, the employer is required to deposit four percent of the worker’s insurance premium so that the worker can retire within 20 years of service. Various employers, however, refuse to pay this amount of premium.
Protest rally by workers of the Saveh Profile Company in front of the regime’s Labor Department in the city Saveh
Protest rally by workers of Qazvin Counter Factory
On Thursday, August 20, Qazvin Counter Factory workers went on strike and held a gathering in the factory yard demanding their delayed paychecks.
The protesting workers held several placards and chanted slogans demanding “Paychecks delayed for 27 months, fired workers returning to their jobs, providing unemployment insurance to all, bonuses and other benefits.”
It should be noted that these workers are not able to receive unemployment insurance benefits due to company officials’ refusal to deposit a portion of their insurance premiums.
Shop-owners in Yazd protests the destruction of their stores
On Wednesday, August 19, a number of shop owners in the town of Ashkezar, located in Yazd province, central Iran, gathered on the main road of Yazd to protest the destruction of their shops by the governor’s office, the municipality and the police.
“Recently, regime officials in the governorate, the municipality, as well as the police, have begun destroying shops that are located on the Bandar Abbas-Tehran road under the pretext that are blocking the path of a highway under construction,” one protester said.
Some shopkeepers have been working in the area for more than ten to 15 years and these shops are their only source of income, another protester added.
Protest rally by teachers in front of the Majlis
Protest rally by teachers in front of the Majlis
On Thursday, teachers from all over the country gathered in front of the mullahs’ Majlis (parliament). Protesters have been holding a 24-hour rally outside the Majlis for several days now, demanding an end to discrimination and being employed by the Ministry of Education.
Ministry of Education officials say they will only hire these teachers only if they can pass two entrance exams. Some of the protesting teachers have over ten years of experience.
It is noteworthy that in the last decade, to compensate for the shortage of teachers, the Ministry of Education has hired more than 50,000 teachers and educators based temporary contracts and low salaries, and refuses to permanently employ them to avoid providing insurance and retirement benefits.
