Concurrent with Hassan Rouhani
government’s attempts concerning privatization, attracting of imperialist
corporations and implementation of the “International Monetary Fund” and “World
Bank” prescriptions, threatening, dismissal from work, detention and incarceration
of labor activists by the Islamic Republic has increased.
The recent summon and subsequent
detention of 20 workers of the Chadremlou Mine by security forces; earlier
dismissal from work of the Chadremlou Trade Association’s Secretary and summoning
and warning of three other Board members for using “extra caution” in their
trade activities; detention of four Poli-Ekril workers’ representatives and
incarcerating them in Dastgerd Prison; cutting Fajer-Petrochemical Factor
Repair and Guard Unit labor activist’s benefits and preventing workers’
representative from entering the factory; preventing the “Pars-Goo” Margarine
Factory’s Worker Consumption Cooperative President from entering the factory; dismissal
from work and turning-in of nine Shiraz Estahban and Farapakesh Cement Factory workers’
elected representatives to the “judicial authorities”; are examples of workers’
repression, and Islamic Republic authorities’ targeted actions during the last
few months.
High-ranking government
authorities’ extensive attempts in “privatization” of national resources,
“deregulation” in the work-places, expansion of “free economical zones”,
guaranteeing “tax-exemption in the free economical zones”, making labor-force
“cheaper”, crueler slashing of the subsidies (implementation of phase-two of
the Targeting of the Subsidies), are inseparable parts of Rouhani and Islamic
Republic’s main goal of creating “better conditions for foreign investment”. Visiting of representatives from
the Commerce House’s of 28 Asian and Pacific countries and presence of a “large
French investment delegation” in our country, are examples of attempts for
closer-ties with “world economy” and sale of our national resources.
According to the International
Charter of Labor-Union Rights, strike is workers’ right. Because of strike and
protest, one cannot fire or detain workers. Dismissal and detention of labor
activists is a clear sign of the Islamic Republic’s fear of workers’ just
struggle and brutal violation of labor-union rights. The Iranian Committee for
Labor-Union Relations condemns threatening, dismissal from work, detention and
incarceration of labor activists by the Islamic Republic. Supporting labor
activists and workers’ courageous representatives, organized and united
struggle, is the only way to achieve workers’ demands, such as ensuring job
security, wage increases according to the actual inflation rate and securing
labor-union rights.
The Iranian Committee for Labor-Union Relations
Feb3rd
,2014
