Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, April 27, 2020— In an article about workers’ poor living conditions and unemployment following the novel coronavirus pandemic and the Iranian regime’s inaction, the state-run Sharq daily reported: “In the last ten days at least 100,000 workers in the provinces of Mazandaran, Golestan and Lorestan have been laid off. Furthermore, about 65,000 others have registered to receive unemployment insurance/benefits. This is only a portion of the numbers that the local authorities of these cities and provinces are announcing. There is no information about the statistics from other provinces.”
Sharq daily reported on Monday, April 27, about the health condition of the mentioned workers. “Another issue that raises concerns about the workers’ circumstances is their health in the workshops and factories that have reopened recently. Just a few days ago, the coronavirus test results of 37 workers in the petrochemical factory of Urmia (northwest Iran) were positive. Apparently 82 workers were tested, meaning the test results of 45% of all the workers in this factory were positive,” the report indicates.
As a result, there are escalating concerns about the health of these workers. This is especially alarming considering the fact that these workers, due to their low-income status, probably did not have adequate access to medical treatment during to the COVID-19 crisis.
All in all, it appears that on the doorsteps of International Labor Day, the situation of Iran’s workers society has deteriorated like never before. This branch of Iran’s society has always been engulfed in economic hardships. However, this time around, considering the troubles caused by the regime’s dismal response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis on the country’s economy, the situation of Iran’s workers is even more concerning.
“In Mazandaran (northern Iran) and according to remarks made by a local labor organization official, at least 80,000 construction workers have been laid off. Despite the government’s pledges on supporting the workers in the current circumstances, these workers have yet to receive a dime. Iran’s workers will be facing even more difficult circumstances before the upcoming International Labor Day,” the report adds.
More than 300 unemployed workers of the Iran Zarrin plates factory have been registered to receive unemployment insurance/benefits. As stated in this report, the warehouses of the company that these workers work for are full. However, since they have not been selling for some time, they are now forced to decrease their workforce. Over 300 workers are employed in this factory and all are on the brink of losing their jobs.
This is just another aspect of how the ongoing coronavirus crisis will result in further social unrest and dissent targeting the mullahs’ regime ruling Iran.
