Several labor unions and women’s rights activists have issued a joint statement regarding next year’s wages, declaring that the minimum wage set for workers and wage earners “should not be less than 600 million rials (approximately 666 USD).”
They criticized the fact that wages lower than the real cost of living constitute a “crime” and warned that “this year, the situation is more critical than ever.” They wrote: “The ruthless monster of inflation has turned our lives into a nightmare.”
Low Wages Fail to Attract Workers; Labor Shortage Crisis in Iran
In one part of the statement, they emphasized: “Given the soaring costs in dollars and the tsunami of price hikes, the continuous devaluation of wages, the prevention of wage increases in line with inflation throughout the year, and postponing it to a single adjustment at year-end, any percentage increase is rendered ineffective and meaningless.”
Hossein Habibi, a member of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils of Iran’s regime, previously stated: “The total cost of living, considering rent and basic necessities, is 700 million rials (approximately 777 USD).”
Currently, the minimum wage for workers covered by labor law, including benefits for married workers with children, is 110 million rials (approximately 122 USD).
The authors of the statement pointed out the various expenses that workers and wage earners face, stating that in addition to the costs of food, clothing, housing, and education, they also “struggle with a crisis in medicine and healthcare, clean air, electricity, gas, and even the most basic human needs.”
The unions that signed the statement stressed that their insistence on determining and raising real wages is an effort for welfare, equality, and a better life, both for today and for the future, in defense of their children. They added: “Every day, we witness the growing number of child laborers, the rising statistics of prostitution and suicides, all for a piece of bread.”
On Friday, March 7, Keyvan Mehtadi, a teacher, trade union activist, and former political prisoner, released a video on social media discussing the process of setting the minimum wage. He said: “Most wage earners have no knowledge of how wages are determined. Given the multiple pressures we face, wage determination is a matter of life and death for a segment of society’s workers. It is directly tied to widespread malnutrition or children dropping out of school. This issue can even be a national concern, similar to environmental problems—just as urgent and important for society.”
They continued their statement by comparing the budgets allocated to security, military, and governmental institutions with that of wage earners, writing: “The budget allocated to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) for the year 2025 exceeds the budget of 10 ministries and is set at around 350 trillion rials (approximately 389 million USD). It is against this oppressive system that we cry out: ‘When it’s our turn, suddenly the treasury is empty!'”
