Reza Pahlavi’s Message on International Workers’ Day and His Emphasis on Workers’ Role in Iran’s Future
Reza Pahlavi said in his Workers’ Day message: During my father’s time, with the Shah and nation’s White Revolution, workers’ welfare and livelihoods were placed at the center of attention, from making workers shareholders in factory profits, to facilitating home purchases and creating educational, welfare, and sports facilities for workers and their families.
On the eve of International Workers’ Day, Reza Pahlavi published a message on this occasion, addressing the difficult situation of workers in Iran and speaking of their role in the country’s future developments. This message is released at a time when many workers and various sectors of society face economic hardships, declining purchasing power, and job insecurity.
Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote in his message on this occasion: “On International Workers’ Day, I send my greetings to all you hardworking and brave workers of Iran.
In these difficult and exhausting days—the result of the forty-seven-year destructive performance of the Islamic Republic—I stand by your side. I know that you workers and laborers, like most of your countrymen, are under heavy economic pressure and livelihood constraints; your tables become smaller and emptier every day, while the Islamic Republic spends our national wealth on warmongering and supporting terrorist groups.
This situation is unworthy of Iranian workers and citizens and will end with the overthrow of this regime and the fruition of the sacrifices and pure blood of tens of thousands of martyrs who gave their lives for Iran’s freedom.
Achieving this goal requires the participation of each and every one of us. At every moment and every step, ask yourself: Does this action extend the life of the regime or does it contribute to the victory of the Shiraz and Sun revolution? Every action, no matter how small, is effective in dismantling the regime’s repressive apparatus and determining the destiny of a great and historic nation.
From the teachings of Zoroaster to the glorious era of the Achaemenids, the position of work and workers, as one of the most essential pillars of development, prosperity, and welfare, has always been honored and revered in Iranian history and culture. Darius the Great, more than 2,500 years ago, personally attended to the affairs of male and female workers and employees employed at Persepolis and issued orders for the direct payment of their rights and wages. In modern times, too, we witnessed the revival of this ancient culture. My grandfather and father always paid special attention to work and workers.
During my father’s time, with the Shah and nation’s White Revolution, workers’ welfare and livelihoods were placed at the center of attention: from making workers shareholders in factory profits, to facilitating home purchases and creating educational, welfare, and sports facilities for workers and their families.
The issue of economic and industrial development, work, and entrepreneurship centered on the welfare, comfort, and dignified life of workers holds special and fundamental importance for me as well. Therefore, my team in the Iran Flourishing project has completely and purposefully focused on this subject and has carefully studied, reviewed, and presented ideas and solutions appropriate to Iran’s conditions.
I believe that with Iran returning to the track of progress and development and the restoration of prosperity and growth, the country’s workers and their honored families will once again enjoy the respect, welfare, and dignity that is worthy of all Iranians.
Long live Iran,”
This message was released as, concurrent with Workers’ Day, many analysts and observers point to Iran’s economic situation and the challenges facing workers; including increased cost of living, declining purchasing power, and existing constraints in the labor market. In such an environment, presenting views and proposals about the economic future and the position of workers has received increasing attention.
