Payment of part of the arrears of Haft Tappeh workers
Protests by workers at the Haft Tappeh Agricultural and Industrial Company finally forced the authorities to pay some of the delayed salaries. There is still no exact information about how much and why the salaries were delayed and other demands of the workers at the company.
The news of the payment of arrears of salaries to workers at Haft Tappeh Agriculture and Industry Company comes amid an escalation in unrest and protests by workers at the company, the Ahvaz Steel Factory, and strikes by teachers and other workers. Two weeks ago, due to the intensity of the labor protests, workers were paid one month's salaries.
Now, news agencies are reporting that the company has paid two months of unpaid salaries to its workers. It should be noted that the company's workers have not received their salaries for seven months.
Mohammad Shariatmadari, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in the Rouhani government, met and talked with representatives of striking workers at the Ministry of Cooperatives on Thursday, December 6. This is while Esmaeil Bakhshi, the representative of the striking workers, is still in prison.
The meeting was attended by Alireza Mahjoub, a member of parliament and secretary general of the Workers' House, Hatem Shakerami, deputy head of labor relations at the Ministry of Cooperatives, and a number of officials from the ministry. The purpose of the meeting was to address the problems of the company's workers.
This is while Fars News Agency had broadcast a video report on the evening of Wednesday, December 4, announcing the payment of arrears of salaries to workers at the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agricultural and Industrial Company. The workers were happily announcing the news of receiving their arrears in front of the camera.
However, there is still no precise information about whether the payment of arrears will include all workers. In addition, there is no information about other demands of the company's workers, as well as the fate of the arrested workers.
Turning social issues into security issues
Mohammad Shariatmadari, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare of the Islamic Republic, said in his speech that anyone who “stands against protecting existing employment is not one of us.” However, he did not explicitly say who those who stand against protecting employment are.
The Minister of Cooperatives and Labor of the Islamic Republic also stated that social issues should not be turned into security issues. In this regard, he did not provide the media with further explanation about who and what motives are behind turning social issues, including a labor strike for unpaid wages, into a security issue.
Mohammad Shariatmadari said: "Some people are seeking to disrupt the peace, which will result in unemployment for workers, and we do not want this to happen, but rather we want to carry out these matters while maintaining complete peace."
According to official statements by Islamic Republic officials, including the Minister of Labor, the payment of salaries to workers at Haft Tappeh Agriculture and Industry Company has been delayed for seven months. This issue had led to the strike by workers at the company. In addition to demanding payment of their arrears, the workers had demanded the implementation of a job classification plan and the transfer of ownership of the company to the government sector and the council administration of the company.
In addition, the release of Ismail Bakhshi, the imprisoned representative of Haft Tappeh workers, and Sepideh Gholian, a civil activist, have also been among the demands of the company's labor union.
This is despite Karim Yavari, the Director General of Job Support and Unemployment Insurance, claiming that Esmail Bakhshi's case is a security matter and that handling it is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Labor.
Source: DW
