The state-run ILNA news agency reported that the cost of the household livelihood basket in Iran has increased to 367.8 million rials (approximately 583 USD), stating that wages do not even cover one-third of living expenses.
Currently, the minimum monthly wage for workers covered by labor law, who are married and have children, is around 110 million rials (approximately 174 USD).
ILNA emphasized in its report that in recent months, the living costs of working families have increased due to heavy inflation affecting all goods and services. It added that in September, bread prices in various provinces rose by at least 25%, and in early October, the government officially raised the prices of milk and dairy products by 20%.
According to this news agency, taking these price increases into account, the livelihood basket calculated by labor activist Faramarz Tofighi for September is based on data from the Pasteur Institute and the Statistical Center of Iran, which includes official rates of food items.
He said: “The minimum wage for 2024 only covers 29% of living expenses, or the 367.8 million rials livelihood basket. In simpler terms, workers receiving the minimum wage are able to meet only 29.62% of their monthly living costs.”
The rising prices have led Mohsen Bagheri, a worker member of the Supreme Labor Council, to criticize the prolonged wait for the council’s tripartite meetings.
Bagheri said that since the beginning of this year (March 21), not a single meeting of the Supreme Labor Council has been held, and this approach is a violation of the explicit law.
The Supreme Labor Council is responsible for setting the annual minimum wage, but its performance has been heavily criticized by independent labor activists and unions.
Meanwhile, Hamid Haji-Esmaeili, a labor market expert, told the state-run Khabar Online news website that the main reason why workers, retirees, and consequently employees, are demanding wages to be set twice a year is the rising and fluctuating prices throughout the year, as well as the inflation that occurs over the course of the year.
So far, the government of Massoud Pezeshkian has not taken any action regarding the livelihood problems of workers and other wage earners. This comes despite the fact that in the short period since the 14th government took office, the prices of certain consumer goods have seen a significant increase by government order.
