Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, October 31, 2021—Retirees and pensioners held rallies in several cities across Iran on Sunday, protesting poor living conditions, low wages, and the regime’s lack of response to their demands. Protests rallies were reported in Tehran, Ahvaz, Tabriz, and Rasht, among other cities.
October 31 – Tabriz, northwest #Iran
Retirees and pensioners rallying and protesting the fact that they have not received answers to their long-raised demands over their economic grievances.#IranProtests #اعتراضات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/f6Ly7yEoKj— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 31, 2021
In the past months, retirees have been regularly organizing protests in various cities. But regime officials refrain from addressing the pensioners’ demands. The protesters complain that their meager pensions are not nearly enough to cover their most basic expenses and are often delayed for several months.
The decline in Iran’s economy, spurred by government corruption and destructive policies, has plunged the lives of many pensioners and retired government workers into utter poverty. The rial, Iran’s national currency, has seen a huge dip in the past few years, losing more than 80 percent of its value. This has caused a spike in the prices of basic goods. Meanwhile, pensions and salaries have not been adjusted to this fundamental shift in the economical dynamics of the society. Under the current rates, most pensioners live under the poverty line.
October 31 – Rasht, northern #Iran
Retirees and pensioners protesting and holding rallies demanding answers to their long-raised economic grievances.#IranProtests #اعتراضات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/4T8LWQed89— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 31, 2021
This is against the government’s own policies to adjust pensions based on changes in inflation rates. According to a 2020 census, there are 18 million pensioners in Iran. These are part of Iran’s impoverished masses, who account for 96 percent of the population and live under the poverty line. According to the regime’s own statistics, more than 75 percent of pensioners are struggling to procure their needs.
Pensioners receive on average 25 million rials per month while the poverty line in some parts of Iran has reached 100 million rials in the past year.
October 31 – #Iran
Retirees of the Iran Communications Company rallying and demanding answers to their long-raised economic grievances.#IranProtests #اعتراضات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/HULOFXSPkQ— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 31, 2021
At the same time, workers of Abadan Petrochemical Complex rallied for a second day demanding answers to their raised issues, including equal pay, job security, and their fired colleagues returning to work. According to local reports, four of the workers at this company have been fired after raising their grievances with the company’s management. The workers started their protests on Saturday.
Workers of the petrochemicals industry have been holding protests in several cities. In Jask, Hormozgan province, the workers of the Kuh-e Mobarak Petrochemical Company are on strike for not receiving their overdue wages. These workers have not received any salary for six months and their contractor is not responding to their demands. Government authorities also refrain from addressing their problems.
In Kermanshah province, the workers of the Petrochemical Repairs Workshop of Bistun are on strike due to the company’s lack of response to their demands. Strikes also in Khuzestan province, where workers of the Razi Petrochemical Company are demanding local authorities to address their problems. On Saturday, the workers of this company continued their strike and held a protest rally in front of the company’s headquarters.
October 31 – Abadan, southwest #Iran
Workers of Abadan Petrochemical Complex rallied for a second day demanding answers to their raised issues, including equal pay, job security & their fired colleagues returning to work.#IranProtests #اعتراضات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/nuTdAB0XYs— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 31, 2021
