Iranian workers report prolonged unpaid wages and layoffs amid economic strain

What happened

Iran International reports numerous workers across Iran’s mining, industrial, and municipal sectors are facing unpaid wages stretching from several weeks to as long as eight months, accompanied by layoffs. Specific examples include iron ore and copper mine employees in northeastern Iran and Kerman province, as well as industrial workers near Tehran, who have not received full salaries for months. These wage issues persist despite some companies’ revenue recovery, and some workers fear protesting due to the risk of dismissal.

Messages from workers highlight severe payment delays at facilities such as the Sanghan iron ore mine in Khaf, where a 24-year employee has received no salary for three months, and Gol Gohar in Sirjan, where workers report up to eight months of unpaid wages and dismissals without compensation. Similarly, employees at MAPNA Locomotive near Tehran report receiving only partial salaries, with payment problems beginning during a recent 40-day war and continuing since.

Municipal employees in cities like Sari near the Caspian Sea also report months of unpaid wages, underscoring the breadth of the issue across different sectors. Workers describe a lack of effective recourse for wage arrears, with complaints to labor authorities yielding no results and fears of job loss deterring protests.

Known from the source

• Workers in Iran’s mining, industrial, and municipal sectors report months-long unpaid wages ranging from several weeks up to eight months.
• Layoffs have occurred in some workplaces without payment of owed wages.
• Specific sites with reported issues include Sanghan iron ore mine in Khaf, Chah Firouzeh copper mine and Gol Gohar mine in Kerman province, MAPNA Locomotive in Karaj, and municipal employees in Sari.
• Economic challenges including inflation, unemployment, and wage inadequacy are acknowledged by Iran’s Central Bank Governor.
• Households increasingly rely on credit and installment plans due to insufficient monthly wages.

What remains unclear

Iran’s economic difficulties are acknowledged by senior officials, including Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, who confirmed serious economic problems exacerbated by war and sanctions, though he rejected claims of imminent economic collapse. Meanwhile, many Iranian households exhaust wages halfway through the month and increasingly rely on credit and installment plans for essentials, according to both worker reports and semi-official media.

What remains unclear: Verification of wage arrears extent and durations at listed workplaces. Independent confirmation of layoffs linked to non-payment of wages. Corroboration of worker testimonies and employer payment records. Confirmation of effects of the recent 40-day war on wage payments.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Iran International. Open the source.