HomeNEWSIRAN NEWSIran: Retirees, workers, hold protest rallies in several cities
NEWSIRAN NEWS

Iran: Retirees, workers, hold protest rallies in several cities

By Mahmoud Hakamian
iran protests july 23, 2023
Protest rally by retirees and workers in different cities across Iran—July 23, 2023

Retired workers and pensioners of the Iranian regime’s Social Security Organization held protest rallies in several cities across Iran on Sunday despite the scorching summer heat. As their living conditions continue to deteriorate under the corrupt rule of the mullahs, the retirees have found no other solution to obtain their rights than to take to the streets and hold protest rallies.

Gatherings were reported in Ahvaz, Shush, and Kermanshah.

In the past few years, retirees across Iran have been protesting their deteriorating living conditions, especially as the government refuses to adjust their pensions based on the inflation rate and fluctuations in the price of the rial, Iran’s national currency. The price of most basic goods have spiked severalfold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before. Retirees are also facing lack or inadequate access to basic services such as healthcare and health insurance.

In Sush, the retirees of Shush and Haft Tappeh held a joint rally. The protesters were chanting, “Our tablecloths are in ruins, why are you doing this to us?” and “We will only get our rights in the streets,” making it clear that they will not stop their protests until they get their rights.

In Kermanshah, the protesters were chanting, “Disastrous inflation is ruling the market!” They held placards on which they had written their demands, including access to free healthcare based on the regime’s own laws.

While they served the country during their working years, they had been promised to be taken care of after their retirement by putting their savings in a government-run retirement fund or the Social Security Organization. But today, they are struggling to make ends meet and are forced to come to the streets to reclaim their most basic rights.

In Ahvaz, the protesters were chanting, “What happened to promises of controlling inflation? Stop lying to the people!” a reference to promises made by regime president Ebrahim Raisi to control inflation and eradicate poverty. Raisi, who has nothing but torture and executions on his report card, has only made the economic situation worse since he took office in 2021.

For several years regime officials have been making promises to implement the law for adjusting pensions. But as they continue to dither and delay, the lives of pensioners, who rely solely on government stipends, continue to spiral into poverty.

Also on Sunday, municipality workers of district 9 of Shiraz held a protest rally. The municipality has refused to pay their overdue wages for several months. Regime authorities refuse to respond to their demands and no one claims responsibility for the unpaid wages and bonuses.

In Yazd, central Iran, workers of the Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company went on full strike and held a protest rally.

The workers are protesting poor working conditions, low and unstable wages, lack of payment of their stock dividends, and the adjustment of their wages based on their working conditions and the rising inflation rate in the country.

Previous article
How will Iran’s looming water crisis end?
Next article
Iran’s telecom retirees resume protests as authorities refuse to address their demands
Mahmoud Hakamian
RELATED ARTICLES

Selected

Latest News and Articles