As labor protests gain momentum in Iran, oil and gas workers have also joined the movement, underscoring growing concerns about economic and working conditions across the country.
The workers at the South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC) refineries held a protest rally on Tuesday to protest against economic grievances and the incomplete payment of wages. They wanted to use this protest to voice and enforce their demands.
On Monday, permanent employees of the Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), staged a protest march in Asaluyeh, Bushehr province, to draw attention to the growing unrest in Iran’s key industries. At the same time, workers at the Kangan cement factory, also in southern Iran, continued their strike, which has now lasted for 28 days, demanding accountability from the authorities.
The striking workers at Kangan Cement have put forward several demands, including permanent employment of contract workers, implementation of a comprehensive job classification plan and more vacation days. Despite their long-standing efforts, these demands have not been implemented so far, leading to sustained protests.
In addition, the Council for Organizing Protests of Oil Contract Workers has been actively sharing pictures and reports on social media of various protest actions in the oil and gas sector, suggesting a coordinated action by the worker groups. The Council noted that Parsian Oil and Gas Holding and the Fajr Jam Gas Refinery in southern Iran have carried out similar actions.
The group has made a number of key demands, including “the dismissal of incompetent and corrupt officials, the abolition of salary caps, the elimination of pension cuts and a comprehensive overhaul of pension fund regulations.”
The inquiries highlighted the deep and systemic problems of the oil and gas sector, which is central to the Iranian economy.
Previously, workers overseeing drilling in the southern oil fields had also held protests.
Workers in Iran have repeatedly protested against the deteriorating economic situation, inadequate wage policies and delayed payment of wages. However, despite the frequency of these protests in recent years, their demands have largely been ignored.
An April report by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) revealed that 428 labor protests were reported between April 2023 and April 2024.
Amid these challenges, Iran’s electricity crisis over the summer – which cut power supplies to industry by half and caused widespread blackouts – has now led to dire warnings of a looming severe gas shortage next winter.
The strikes are not limited to the south of Iran; a wave of protests has swept the entire country. Iranian nurses They take to the streets to demand better working conditions, fair pay and respect for their profession.
These demonstrationswhich began on August 5, have developed into large-scale strikes. The nurses’ demands are clear and urgent: an immediate wage increase, the abolition of mandatory overtime, proper and timely implementation of nursing tariffs, payment of overdue wages, improvement of harsh working conditions, and an end to security measures against protesting nurses. These demands go beyond financial compensation; they demand recognition of the crucial role that nurses play in Iran’s health system.
However, the Iranian government is struggling with a significant budget deficit estimated to exceed 50 percent, making it difficult to meet the demands of the care workers. Similar problems exist in other sectors, where most workers struggle to survive on about $200 a month.
