As poverty rages across Iran and people are struggling to afford the basics, with over 70% of the country unable to cover a third of their expenses, more protests against the regime have sprung up.
On October 5, 2020, nurses from hospitals in Urmia gathered outside the governor’s office to protest a several-month-long delay in their paychecks. They called for the “special nursing bonus” to be paid, and urge the Ministry of Health to look at their living conditions.
The protesters said: “We want to put an end to discrimination in our contracts.”
On October 4, 2020, health care workers in Tehran held a rally outside the parliament building over a lack of job security. In addition, they demand the changing of their employment classification, and job status remaining in limbo.
On October 3, 2020, retired steel factory workers and their relatives protested outside the Interior Ministry building in Tehran. They demand that officials address the issue of their delayed salaries.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, Telecommunications Company workers, specifically those from the SHASCOM and TCI1 companies, protested outside the Ministry of Communications. Also, they are seeking classification of their specific jobs to ensure just salaries.
They chanted: “Telecommunications Company, shame on you, pay attention to our rights.”
While in Ahvaz, Ramin power plant workers continued their protest over job security and the transfer of the company to the private sector, with 49% of the company shares currently held by a private investor. The 950 workers say that this is putting their job security at risk.
In Isfahan, state hospital nurses gathered outside the Isfahan Medical Sciences University to demand their overtime work pay. In addition, they demand their special nursing bonus, an end to discrimination, and a change to their employment status.
It’s the economy
The statistics surrounding the economy are based on the “food basket” rate set by the regime in February. Basically, the poverty line is set at 49.4 million rials (about $357) per month and anyone who earns below that cannot afford to live.
Since then, the cost of the basics increased by 32% and the people have seen the cost of food increase by 4.9 million rials per month. However, wages have yet to be raised and the regime blames the coronavirus and anything else that they can do.
The Iranian Resistance wrote: “In a situation where paycheck raises are completely ignored, this already deprived sector of Iran’s society is facing even more pains and sufferings.”
