According to reports published today, May 6, third-party workers in the Gachsaran oil and gas region went on strike and gathered in front of the Gachsaran governor’s office to protest the unresolved status of their employment. These workers, who have been employed for 10 to 18 years, have not received responses to their stated demands.
Reports indicate that these workers continue to work under extremely difficult conditions with very low wages and without any job security. They are demanding to be officially employed by the oil industry and for the removal of contractors.
In protest against the worsening conditions of their work and livelihood, third-party workers have called for a gathering in front of the Ministry of Oil in Tehran on May 7.
The main demands of the third-party workers include:
- Elimination of contractors and direct employment
- Standardization and increase of wages
- Reforming the tax calculation method and refunding unlawfully deducted taxes
- Implementation of the job classification plan
- Provision of oil cards similar to those given to other employees
- Access to bank loans under the same terms as other employees
- Access to welfare services and other job-related benefits
- Creation of a housing cooperative
- Timely payment of wages in line with other employees
- Enforcement of Administrative Justice Court ruling No. 3188
- Implementation of the “job attraction right” stipulated in the same court ruling
The demand to eliminate contractors is a widespread demand across the oil industry. Also today, May 6, retired oil workers in Ahvaz held a protest over low pensions and salaries, as well as embezzlement by officials from the retirement fund.