Rewritten Title: Economic Pressures Mount for Iranian Workers Amidst Currency Challenges
Article:
A Deepening Crisis for the Workforce
The head of the Fars Province Coordination Council of Islamic Labor Councils, Bahram Zanoubi Tabar, has issued a stark warning regarding the deteriorating living standards of workers. He stated that intensifying economic problems have created an unprecedented situation, where workers face severe challenges in making ends meet.
The Squeeze on Households
A central issue highlighted is the disparity between workers’ riyal-based wages and the costs of essential goods and services, which are heavily influenced by the exchange rate. “This situation has caused the workers’ livelihood to shrink every day, making life hard and exhausting for them,” Zanoubi Tabar explained. He identified two primary pressure points: exorbitant housing rents, which consume a major part of their income, and the high costs associated with their children’s education, including tuition, school transportation, and supplies. Many families are now forced to make difficult choices between fundamental needs.
Social Fabric Under Strain
The economic pressures are having profound social consequences. Zanoubi Tabar warned of increased family tensions, a rising divorce rate, and a loss of family unity within working-class communities. He described these as heavy consequences threatening a segment of society traditionally regarded as among its most honorable, now facing serious challenges to their psychological and social well-being.
Criticism of Social Security Policies
Further compounding the crisis, according to the labor official, are new directives from the Social Security Organization. He criticized what he described as “non-expert circulars” that he claims have created additional financial burdens for workers instead of supporting the labor force. Specifically, he pointed to circulars related to the amendment of job titles, which impose heavy costs. He stated that many employers refuse to implement these directives, leaving workers to pay the substantial fees out of their own pockets, sometimes amounting to hundreds of millions of rials.
A Call for Urgent Action and Justice
Zanoubi Tabar emphasized that “workers should not fall victim to irresponsible decisions and circulars that put pressure on their lives and future.” He called for an urgent review of the Social Security Organization’s procedures and proposed the establishment of a logical and justice-oriented mechanism for amending job titles to alleviate the economic pressure on workers.
He further appealed to the government and parliament for immediate policy-making, urging the formulation and implementation of effective support policies in the areas of wages, housing, education, and healthcare. “Implementing these policies is the only solution to create motivation and peace of mind among workers,” he concluded, “so they can continue their vital role in advancing national production and the country’s development.”