Nishapur Female Worker Killed in Unsafe Factory Conditions

A young worker in the Iranian city of Nishapur, a 26-year old mother of two, recently lost her life while operating a plastic injection machine at a workshop in the city. The incident had shed new light on persistently dangerous working conditions within the country.

The worker, whose identity remains undisclosed, passed away after the accident last week. Specific details regarding the incident have not been disclosed to the public at this time.

Reza Alizadeh, Nishapur’s deputy police commander, has confirmed that a court case has been opened in response to the incident and expert investigations and assessments are underway.

Reports indicate that the deceased worker did not have social security insurance, further exacerbating her vulnerability in an already precarious situation.

In an interview with IranWire, an anonymous worker from a similar industrial workshop offered a glimpse into the challenging work environments prevalent in the region. 

They revealed that Karimabad village, an impoverished area near Nishapur, has become a hub for unlicensed workshops that employ disadvantaged women. 

"These women, trapped in a cycle of limited education and extreme poverty, are forced to endure inhumane working conditions to make ends meet," the source said. 

This incident once again underscores the risks faced by workers, particularly women, in Iran's workplaces. 

Mandatory hijab has also proven to be a source of danger, as inappropriate clothing can lead to tragic accidents. 

Marzieh Taherian, a 21-year-old night shift worker at a textile factory in Semnan, lost her life in October 2021 when her headscarf was caught in heavy machinery. The woman was pulled into the machine and killed. Her death sparked a wave of public outcry, prompting authorities to pledge a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and ensure accountability for those responsible. Marzieh had also been insufficiently trained on the machine and the machine lacked safety features such as an alarm.