For over five years, Zamaneh Media has diligently monitored and reported on labor rights issues in Iran. Our reports offer on-the-ground insights to highlight underreported topics, support labor rights activists, and advocate for change globally.
This edition is our last in the current format. The volume of news often necessitates real-time updates rather than quarterly or annual summaries. Going forward, we’ll focus on real-time reporting on the Zamaneh website and special reports, allowing us to delve deeper into specific labor issues and trends.
Thank you for your continued support. We remain committed to advocating for Iranian workers’ rights. As a group of prisoners in Evin Prison wrote in a joint letter on May 1, 2024, International Workers’ Day, “We hope for a future shaped by the powerful and aware hands of the working class.”
Covering April to June 2024, the report sheds light on the increasing use of capital punishment and the ongoing struggles faced by workers in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This past quarter, there has been a significant surge in executions, with many individuals being sentenced for drug-related offenses or murder. This grim reality coincides with a notable political event: the death of Ebrahim Raisi, head of the 13th administration and former member of the “Death Committee,” in a helicopter crash. The incident led to early presidential elections and empty promises made by the six approved candidates regarding worker rights and livelihoods, promises which until now, seem far from realization.
The report highlights that wage suppression has been a critical issue for Iranian workers. The Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare unilaterally announced the minimum wage decision by the Supreme Labor Council (SLC), ignoring labor representatives’ consensus. These representatives, affiliated with government-backed labor organizations, had demanded a wage increase of 15 million tomans. Their frustration led to an online campaign for the labor minister’s impeachment, which gained over 65,000 signatures. However, the impeachment process has stalled due to changes in the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s composition and the delay in labor law reforms following President Raisi’s death.
The economic situation further deteriorated with rising inflation, eroding any modest wage increases from earlier in the year. The Statistical Center of Iran reported inflation rates of 30.9% and 31% for April and May 2024, respectively, with food and beverage prices soaring by over 20%. In particular, the prices of protein-rich foods and public transportation surged significantly, exacerbating the cost of living crisis.
Regional tensions, notably the conflict with Israel in April 2024, have also contributed to economic instability, leading to a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial. The government’s decision to “liberalize” exchange rates and limit subsidized currency availability has hampered the manufacturing sector’s ability to import essential raw materials. This, combined with declining market demand, has led to widespread layoffs, further impacting the workforce.
Despite the Statistical Center of Iran’s report of an official unemployment rate of 8.6% in February, the unemployment rate for women remains disproportionately high at 15%, revealing a significant gender disparity. The economic participation rate for women is also notably lower than for men, at 14.2% compared to 63.8%. The report estimates that only 26.63 million out of 64.55 million people aged 15 and above are employed, with around 2.1 million unemployed.
In response to limited domestic opportunities, many unemployed Iranians have sought work abroad, a trend that labor activists and business owners have noted with concern. The government, facing sanctions and a struggling economy, has been criticized for failing to adjust workers’ wages and retirees’ pensions in line with the cost of living. Promised increases in social security retirees’ pensions, as outlined in the budget law, have yet to be fully realized, leaving many retirees with pensions well below the poverty line.
This report underscores the urgent need for meaningful reforms to address wage suppression, unemployment, and economic disparities in Iran. As the country navigates political and economic challenges, the plight of its workers remains a pressing concern.
