Canadian Labour Movement Condemns a New Anti-Worker Bill Approved by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament

For Immediate Release
March 9, 2000

On February 27, 2000, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament) approved a new anti-worker bill exempting workshops with five employees or less from provisions stipulated in the labour law for a period of six years.  Since the Majlis’ approval, workers in Iran have been protesting this gross attack on their rights, which will affect approximately three million workers who are employed in thousands of small workshops throughout Iran.  On February 28, thousands of workers in Tehran and other major cities in Iran demonstrated against this new bill.  On March 8, 2000, thousands of workers, mostly from industrial and production units, gathered from across Iran to stage another demonstration outside parliament against what they called as a reactionary bill contradictory to international labour rights and standards. 

The Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers were among the first national labour organizations in North America and Europe protesting this recent anti-labour legislation in Iran.  The CLC’s President, Mr. Kenneth Georgetti and the CUPW’s National President, Mr. Dale Clark, in letters addressed to Mohammad Khatami, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, warned that this new bill will allow employers to lay off workers, downsize workplaces, reduce wages, increase child labour and violate all workplace health and safety standards.  They condemned this total violation of workers’ rights, supported workers’ protest against this attack on their rights and living conditions and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the new anti-worker law approved by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s parliament.  Brother Dale Clark urged Mohammad Khatami to remember that the eyes of workers and their organizations throughout the world are focussed on his government and its failure to recognize the right of workers in Iran.

Please continue your protest against this recent anti-worker legislation in Iran.  Please address your protest letters to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Presidency and cc that to ambassador of Iran, the ILO, the ICFTU and the International Alliance in Support of Workers’ Struggles in Iran.

Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azarbaijan Intersection,Tehran, Iran
Fax: 98 21 674790