On Monday, August 26, retirees from the Telecommunications Company and the Social Security Organization held economic protests in several cities across Iran. In their chants, the protesters demanded the removal of “incompetent managers,” accountability from “lying and incompetent officials,” and the attainment of “fair rights.”
According to reports on Monday, the weekly protests by retirees of the Telecommunications Company saw additional retirees from other organizations, including the Social Security Organization, joining in. These protests took place in several provinces, including Zanjan, Gilan, East Azerbaijan, Khuzestan, Isfahan, and Kurdistan.
Retired protesters in Zanjan chanted, “Incompetent managers must be fired.”
In Gilan, dozens of retired telecommunications workers gathered in front of the Telecommunications Department, chanting, “Lying manager, where are the results of your promises?”
In Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan Province, retired protesters criticized the mismanagement and financial corruption of officials, chanting, “Incompetent official, you’ve plundered the company.”
In Shush, a city in Khuzestan Province, protesting retirees highlighted their economic hardships, chanting, “The retiree’s fridge is emptier than before.”
Retired telecommunications workers in Isfahan Province also chanted, “Incompetent manager, shame on you.”
Retirees protesting in Kurdistan Province chanted, “Oppressive shareholder, shame on you.”
The executive bylaw of Article 24 of the Civil Service Law, passed in 2010, outlines the tasks that can be delegated and how services can be purchased from the private sector. It states that “until the obstacles to delegation are removed,” the responsibility of providing services to the workforce remains with the executive body, i.e., the government. However, 14 years after the adoption of this bylaw and in light of the ongoing and frequent protests by these retirees, it appears that neither the “obstacles to delegation” have been removed nor has the executive body fulfilled its duties towards the protesters.
The weekly protests by retirees of the Telecommunications Company have been ongoing for months. The reasons for these protests include the failure to update welfare allowances in 2022 and 2023, management’s disregard for the 2010 bylaw, issues with supplementary insurance, and the failure to pay past dues at current rates.
Protests by oil and gas industry workers in Asaluyeh
Simultaneously with the retirees’ protests, oil and gas industry workers also protested on Monday, with a group of employees from the Pars Oil and Gas Company in Asaluyeh marching in protest.
Dozens of employees from the Pars Oil and Gas Company in Asaluyeh emphasized the demands of oil industry workers, chanting, “Our pay decreases, but oil and gas keep being produced,” and “Fair wages are our undeniable right.”
The demands of these protesting workers include the removal of incompetent and corrupt officials, the elimination of the salary cap, the removal of retirement benefit limitations, and the revision of the retirement fund’s bylaws.
The expansion of labor protests among various groups, including retirees, workers in different industries, teachers, victims of financial fraud, and nurses and healthcare workers, reflects the growing economic difficulties in Iran and the disregard of Iranian regime officials.
