Kenneth V. Georgetti, President Canadian Labour Congress 2841, Prom Riverside Drive Ottawa, Ont. K1V 8X7 Re: Request for Action on Workers’ Rights in Iran  Dear brother Georgetti, We would like to bring to your attention the unbearable situation of workers in Iran. Working people in Iran are struggling with mass unemployment, job losses, and tremendous economic hardship, imposed on them by the anti-worker policies and practices of the Islamic Republic of Iran and employers. Following are some factual information according to the government’s officials and their sponsored media. Of course, the extent of problems faced by workers in Iran is far-reaching.  According to the Ministry of Labour, there are 4 million unemployed workers in Iran. This is while people considered inactive in the labour market by the Ministry of Labour have not been counted. Latest Statistics released by the Statistics Centre in Iran shows that 60% of unemployed persons actively looking for jobs are youth, 15-25, and 34% are 25-44 years old. Take into account that women encompass only about 10 percent of “active” labour force in Iran’s labour market and 35 million people in Iran are under 20 years old. Despite this vast unemployment among adults, youth and women, Child-labour is ever increasing in Iran. In February 2000, Sobhe Emrooz newspaper reported that the rate for renting a child's labour  for one year in the carpet industry is 20,000 to 150,000 tomans ($25- $180). Alireza Mahjub, the director of the government-sponsored “Khaneh Kargar” (Labour House), declared that some 80,000 industrial workers have not received any wages for 3 to 36 months. In Kermanshah, 292 small and medium size factories, in Mazandaran 102, in Hamadan 150, in Semnan 100 factories and production units have been closed down. On February 27, 2000, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) passed a legislation exempting workshops with a workforce of five or less from provisions stipulated in the Labour Law.  This would affect approximately 2,800,000 workers who are employed in thousands of small workshops throughout Iran. Furthermore, temporary contract work is becoming a norm in various industries in Iran. Last year, we witnessed escalating labour disputes in Iran. Workers were forced to launch strikes and demonstrations from coast to coast.  Baresh Textile Factory workers in Isfahan, Alaadin Plant near Tehran, Kouh Fard in Esfahan, Sirvan Road Construction in Orumyeh, Behshahr Textile, Kafsheh Seh Setareh Shoe Factory, Kafsheh Azadagan, textile factories in Ghaemshahr and Fars Province, Parvin Textile near Esfahan, Ajor Samanko near Esfahan, Shahab industrial complex in Kermanshah, Chit Ray Textile in Southern Tehran, Simin Textile in Esfahan, Dehloran and Urumyeh municipality workers in the west and north west, Jahadeh Nasr factory in Khoozastan, Bafnaz textile in Esfahan, Naghsh Iran Carpet Factory, Jian construction company workers and many more have protested time and time again to show their dissatisfaction and demand resolution to their grievances against their employers and  the government policies.  Workers have faced brutal attacks in all these events from security and police forces. They have been beaten, arrested, detained and tortured. Workers in Iran have been deprived of creating their own independent organizations. They do not have a collective voice and agreement. They do not have the right to strike.  Wages are imposed on them without any representation or input from workers. The Islamic Republic of Iran has not recognized Convention 87 ratified in 1948 ILO Conference where the right to form free and independent labour organizations is secured. This government has not yet recognized Convention 98 where the right to collective bargaining is guaranteed for workers.  Since the 89th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2001 will be discussing, among others, social security issues, it would be crucial to know that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet recognized conventions 67 and 69 ratified in 1944 ILO Conference nor has it recognized conventions 121, 128 and 130 ratified in 35th International Labour Conference, where the right of workers to social security is stipulated. “In its Annual Survey 2001,  the ICFTU notes Iran’s poor record on trade union rights. The law does not give workers the right to strike and a 1993 law simply prohibits strikes by government workers. This discriminatory attitude was demonstrated on May 1 1999 when dozens were arrested in Teheran after protesting against a proposed law on small businesses. Moreover at least 400,000 workers from some 500 companies are now suffering from wage arrears stretching back between 3 and 24 months”. (ICFTU, Brussels April 26 2001). In view of above facts and considering all violations of international conventions and workers’ rights by the Islamic Republic of Iran, we ask you to take necessary measures in supports of  the rights and struggles of workers in Iran. In particular, we are recommending the submission of a complaint letter and/or a resolution to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the 89th session of the International Labour Conference. The following demands are not exclusive, but they would capture the highlights of workers’ demands, requests and challenges in their recent struggles. Immediate payment of all unpaid and delayed wages Recognition of the right to organize free and independent workers' organizations and the right to strike Release of the detained and jailed workers Immediate removal of security and police forces from workplaces as well as bringing an end to the violent treatment of workers in labour disputes Increasing the minimum wage according to the real rate of inflation To dispatch an international delegation, composed of representatives from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, International Labour Organization and other appropriate sources to Iran to monitor government and employers’ policies and practices along with the situation of workers in Iran and report their outcome to the ICFTU and ILO for required actions Thank you very much for your consideration of this important solidarity initiative, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.  In Solidarity, Mehdi Kouhestani-nejad President, CUPE Local 3261, Executive Board Member, Toronto CUPE District       Khalil Vermezyari    Vice –president    CUPE Local 2497 Mohammad Safavi UFCW, Local 1518; Representative of Labour Foundation-Iran (Bonyadekar) Farid C. Partovi Coordinator, International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran cc: Dale Clark, National President, CUPW Judy Darcy, National President, CUPE Michael J. Fraser, Director, UFCW Canada Buzz Hargrove, National President, CAW-Canada Lawrence McBrearty, National Director, USWA-Canada Jean-Claude Parrot, Executive Vice-President, CLC Paul Puritt, International Department, CLC Nancy Riche, Secretary-Treasurer, CLC Nycole Turmel, National President, PSAC Hassan Yussuff, Executive Vice-President, CLC