האגודה הישראלית לחקר יחסי עבודה

What is the state of the trade union movement in Iran? In particular, how would you describe the attitude of employers to workers’ rights — do they recognise the essential role of trade unions?

The attitude of the employers is not good at the moment and employers generally still do not recognise independent trade unions and their activities. With the flogging of 17 Aghdarreh miners in May — as a punishment for protesting against their conditions — we are entering a new phase where employers not only see the activities and operation of trade unions as obstacles in the way of their exploitation and profiteering but also government economic policies are aimed at the deregulation of labour relations in the country.

In the last week of July the government excluded more than 28 areas of the country from the application of Iranian labour law and declared them as “free economic and trade zones.”

What is the official view of the government in relation to trade union rights and related activities? Is the labour law properly implemented in Iran?

The issue of the enforcement of such laws anywhere in the world depends on the balance of power between the labour movement and government. In Iran, on some very basic and trivial issues, we can challenge the employers and prevent the violation of workers’ rights. But regarding the key macro issues I would have to say no, as such provisions of labour law are pushed aside and nobody except the workers see themselves as obligated to implement them.

The Ministry of Labour is still interested in promoting its own pet structures and tries hard to impose them as the supposedly legitimate representatives of the workers.

What is your opinion about the formal institutions such as the “house of labour” and Islamic Labour Councils? Have the activities of these institutions made any impact on the lives of workers and the activities of the independent labour organisations? Have these institutions ever played a positive role in changing the situation of workers in Iran?

What can be said about the record and policies of the “house of labour” or the Islamic Labour Councils in the decades that they have been active is that they are practically controlled and maintained by the Ministry of Labour and do not have any independent function whatsoever. As well as them being government-controlled, they cannot be considered real worker organisations as they are ideologically exclusive by believing Islam is a fundamental pre-condition of membership.

These bodies are religious organisations that operate to promote government policies in the workplace. During the 30 years of their operation, they have not taken any positive steps on behalf of the workers — they co-ordinate all their activities with the Ministry of Labour and the employers and therefore act against the labour and the trade union movement.

Recent examples of this include their connivance in the flogging of Aghdarreh mineworkers or their role in ratifying a minimum wage that was at least 75 per cent less than the government-defined poverty threshold.

At the beginning of his presidency, President Hassan Rouhani promised that he will attend to labour issues and the question of trade union freedoms. Has he or his government done anything in relation to the implementation of workers’ rights?

Unfortunately, despite this promise to implement the law, he did not fulfil it. His Ministry of Labour have not only has avoided their responsibilities in dealing with the disputes between workers and employers, but also failed to prevent the security forces attacking the labour strikes.

The government is dragging its feet in relation to the payment of an extra £4 housing allowance, while senior government officers have enjoyed a 50 per cent increase in their salaries and other benefits. Imports continue unabated while domestic industries remain in recession.

Unemployment and poverty are creating havoc as the ruinous prescriptions of the International Monetary Fund are being implemented regardless — the government seems merely concerned with providing cheap labour for foreign investors.

Are the conditions for organising those on corporate payrolls and government employees in Iran any easier than for organising workers? Is there job security in Iran?

There is no such thing as job security in Iran and the trade union rights of civil servants as well as those of non-governmental workers — white and blue collar alike — are violated every day. Of course the employers have their own associations and are able to exert huge influence on the economy and labour market.

Has the signing of the Joint Compliance Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the P5+1 had any significant impact on the status of wage-earners and salaried employees?

Unfortunately, no. Despite the promises of the government that the economy would be re-energised and improve — with the signing of the JCPOA, lifting of the sanctions and the return of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue — these promises not been fulfilled and in addition the US and EU signatories to the agreement have not lifted the sanctions, particularly those pertaining to banking and monetary systems.

In order to attract foreign investment the government has intensified its privatisation programme and the lowering of labour costs. It is trying to amend and change the labour law by removing those articles that support the fundamental rights of workers.

JCPOA has not only failed to have any positive impact but has in fact led to the further deterioration lives of ordinary workers in Iran as no new jobs were created and there is concerted effort to pave the way for the supply of cheap, unregulated labour.

This year all activists and trade unionists in the oil industry have been sacked. Everywhere in the oil industry you meet workers that have not received their wages for over four months.

How do you see the prospects for trade union activities in Iran?

There is no doubt that over the past 10 years trade union activities including worker education as well as the availability of new technology for easy access to information have helped to make the workers stronger demands. And we have established a good relationship with the workers through the monthly widely distributed Trade Union Messenger.

What assistance could active trade unions in other countries — and in particular international workers organisations — provide you with in the campaign for trade union rights in Iran?

I must admit that in recent years IndustriALL Global Union (mining, energy and manufacturing) has been able to help us in various campaigns and reduce the pressure on the trade unions in Iran.

Our representatives have had important consultative meetings with the leadership of IndustriALL and we hope that this solidarity is expanded and strengthened. One of our requests, to international trade union organisations across the world, has been that they use their influence with the International Labour Organisation and elsewhere to press the Iranian authorities and employers to implement the terms of the ILO conventions 87 and 98.

Three years ago UMMI prepared a complaint about the lack of any compliance with health and safety regulations — in one case leading to the death of two female workers — and submitted it to the ILO.

Last month, in another terrible incident in which a tank at a petrochemical plant burst as a result of poor quality of parts used. An accident at another petrochemical plant last year took the life of Shahram Mohammadi.

The communication, exchange of information and training of workers between our representative organs could be another field in which co-operation would be beneficial.

Another is the reprinting of reports and information from our publications in the bulletins and magazines of industry trade unions and those of global trade union federations would also be helpful.

We believe that the strength, influence and success of any trade union in any corner of the world is also the strength of Iranian trade unions — including the UMMI — and we will celebrate it.

Original Source