Nationwide Gathering of Social Security Retirees in Various Iranian Cities; Shadow of Poverty and Hunger Over Retirees
Thousands of social security retirees once again gathered in protest against the implementation process of wage equalization in various Iranian cities including Tehran, Karaj, Ilam, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Tabriz. Based on information and videos sent to Voice of America and images published on social media, on Tuesday, February 7th, a number of social security retirees gathered in front of administrative buildings in various Iranian cities, including governorates, social security offices, and in Tehran in front of the Ministry of Labor building.
These retirees, protesting the poor living conditions and inflation prevailing in Iran, holding placards and chanting slogans including “Promises are enough, our tables are empty” and “Cry out against all this injustice” demanded that officials fulfill their promises and properly implement wage equalization.
According to Article 111 of the Social Security Law, the minimum pension for retired workers should not be less than the minimum wage set for employed workers—a law that, according to these retirees, has not been implemented to this day.
Mashad retirees holding a banner stating “Cry of hungry retirees” demanded justice in social security
Retirees in Tehran gathered in front of the Ministry of Labor building, unanimously crying out against inflation and rising prices in Iran
Retirees in Tabriz and Ilam also demanded wage equalization in their gatherings
Groups of retirees also gathered in Isfahan and Kermanshah
Retirees in Karaj gathered in front of the Social Security Office, chanting the slogan “Promises are enough, our tables are empty” to express their dissatisfaction with officials’ negligence
This is not the first time retirees in Iran have held large-scale gatherings in various Iranian cities. In recent years and late December, retirees criticized the government’s performance and parliamentarians’ actions, holding large-scale protests demanding attention to their demands such as wage equalization and proper implementation of the Civil Service Management Law.
The poor economic situation has worsened in recent months at a time when new dimensions of widespread financial corruption by individuals and institutions affiliated with the Islamic Republic regime are being revealed daily. Cases of economic corruption by government-close figures and unlimited financial support by the Iranian regime for terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas are among these instances of corruption.
The United States says the Islamic Republic spends its national wealth not on its people, but on supporting terrorist groups and destabilizing the Middle East. The United States has repeatedly condemned institutionalized financial corruption and the plundering of Iran’s natural resources by regime affiliates, considering them among the main causes of Iran’s economic and financial problems.
Source: Voice of America
