Iranian Workers, Retirees Mark Labor Day with more Protests

May 2, 2023

2 min read

Workers and retirees took to the streets of cities across Iran on International Workers' Day to protest the Islamic Republic's failure to meet their demands

The protesters are calling for a 79 percent wage increase, a reduction in working hours and days, an improvement in accommodation conditions and safer work environments

Workers and retirees took to the streets of cities across Iran on International Workers' Day to protest the Islamic Republic's failure to meet their demands.

According to information obtained by IranWire, retirees gathered outside labor and social security departments on May 1 in Ahvaz, Shush, Dezful, Kermanshah, Kerman, Sanandaj, Sari, and Rasht.

Meanwhile, workers at more than 110 industrial, petrochemical and manufacturing plants joined a nationwide strike that began on April 21.

The protesters are calling for a 79 percent wage increase, a reduction in working hours and days, an improvement in accommodation conditions and safer work environments.

One of them told IranWire that the CEO of the special petrochemical zone in Bushehr province announced the dismissal of striking workers and the recruitment of new ones.

Workers at Dehloran Petrochemical received a text message from the Department of Labor warning that their dismissal by contractors would be legal if they did not return to work by April 29.

ILNA news agency reported that the management of Chavar Ilam Petrochemical Company barred 200 protesting workers with temporary contracts from entering the plant.

Despite the risks they face, daily wage workers held a protest in Qeshm, holding placards reading slogans such as "No to discrimination and oppression against workers," "Workers of any race, religion, and nationality are united," and "Free the imprisoned workers," according to a video distributed online.

Contract workers at Yazd Tire Company in Yazd gathered for a third consecutive day.

A video shared on social media showed members of the Association of Construction Workers and Master Craftsmen in Kamiaran holding papers with slogans.

Members of the association also gathered in the main square of Marivan to read a statement.

At the same time, a group of nurses and other medical staff at Imam Sajjad Hospital in Karaj also gathered to protest low salaries, the non-payment of clothing allowances and meager food stipends, among other things.