Protests erupt across Iran over unpaid wages and pension issues

Multiple labor and social protests have occurred across various Iranian cities, driven by economic grievances and unpaid benefits. In Esfahan, steel industry retirees gathered near the governorate to protest poor living conditions, medical insurance issues, and demands for a 30 percent pension adjustment.

In Tabriz, applicants for the Shahid Madani cooperative lands protested against the long-term uncertainty of their land claims, which have remained unresolved for 23 years. Meanwhile, health workers in Hamedan held demonstrations regarding working hours and salary calculations. In the South Pars and Asaluyeh regions, employees of the Pars Oil and Gas Company staged protests across at least 12 sections and offshore platforms, demanding reforms to the operational salary system and the removal of salary caps.

In Chabahar, workers from the municipality and the Arg va Pi engineering company reported significant arrears. Sanitation workers contracted through the ‘Shabnam’ company cited two months of unpaid wages, six months of missing insurance, and three years of unpaid severance. Additionally, workers in the Rimdan border region under the Chabahar Free Zone reported three months of unpaid wages and insurance. These incidents reflect broader reported trends of wage delays and industrial instability within the country.