On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, the Italian Labor Union(UIL), one of the country’s largest trade unions representing over two million members, has expressed strong support for the labor movement in Iran. In a statement issued by its Marche regional branch on April 29, 2025, UIL denounced the long-standing repression of Iranian workers under both the former monarchy and the current clerical regime.
Established in 1950 and affiliated with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), UIL criticized the Iranian regime for its continued violations of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. Despite Iran being a signatory to multiple ILO agreements, the union noted that basic worker protections remain absent. “There is no legal or institutional safeguard for even the most basic workers’ rights in Iran,” the statement read.
On September 24, amid nationwide unrest, South Pars oil workers in Bushehr and Tazareh miners in Semnan protested unsafe conditions and delayed wages. Literacy teachers in #Tehran and defrauded citizens in Qazvin also rallied for job security and compensation. pic.twitter.com/Dnyzf8pvtA
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 24, 2024
The UIL’s message paints a stark picture of labor conditions in Iran:
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Job insecurity is widespread — 94% of Iranian workers are employed on short-term contracts, and 95% lack formal agreements, making them highly susceptible to arbitrary dismissal without severance or legal recourse.
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Independent unions are banned, replaced by state-run “Islamic Labor Councils” that fail to represent the interests of workers.
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Wages are far below subsistence levels — the official minimum wage covers less than one-third of a household’s basic monthly expenses, plunging millions into economic hardship.
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Workplace safety is severely neglected — official statistics reveal an average of 40 workplace deaths each week, with many more going unreported, especially in high-risk sectors like mining where safety measures are minimal or nonexistent.
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Women are disproportionately affected — female employment has dropped sharply, and women face systemic discrimination and frequent violations of their labor rights.
UIL contextualized these violations as part of a broader pattern of oppression endured by Iranian workers across decades. “From the Shah’s dictatorship to the current theocratic regime, workers have been systematically denied their rights,” the union stated, adding that the situation has reached a critical stage requiring urgent global attention.
May 1—Iran
Protest by teachers and educators in Harsin, Eslamabad-e-Gharb, Kermanshah, Tehran, and Shiraz, demanding better rights and wages despite security threats, including phone intimidation and summons by authorities.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/uoN98Colaw— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 1, 2025
The union called on international labor organizations, trade unions, and global institutions to amplify their support for Iranian workers. UIL specifically urged the ILO to blacklist Iran for its repeated violations of labor rights. “Iranian workers urgently need global solidarity to obtain even the minimum standards that are taken for granted elsewhere,” the statement emphasized.
UIL also underscored the need for coordinated international pressure to compel the Iranian regime to comply with labor standards and protect workers’ rights. “Without unified international action, Iran’s labor force will remain trapped in a system that strips them of dignity, security, and fundamental human rights,” the union concluded.
This statement represents a significant expression of solidarity from Europe’s labor movement, echoing growing calls around the world for accountability and reform in Iran.