Recent reports have emerged detailing the heart-wrenching suicide of a former Abadan Refinery worker.
The distressing incident, which has sent ripples through Iranian communities and has been widely covered by state media and various Telegram channels, is believed to stem from poverty and pressing circumstances.
According to the Rokna website, an “informed source” divulged that the 35-year-old man tragically ended his life by hanging, while his unsuspecting family slept. The family has since disclosed that he had been employed as a daily wage worker at the Abadan Oil Refinery but lost his job some time ago.
In the wake of economic instability, thousands of Iranian workers find themselves under temporary contracts. These contracts, notorious for their lack of insurance benefits and void of labor law protection, have become commonplace. This leaves countless individuals grappling with the threat of job insecurity and the absence of fundamental employment benefits.
Tragically, this recent suicide is not a solitary case. Previously, two workers from Chovar Petrochemical Company and two young men from a village in Mamasani County ended their lives following employment termination. ILNA news agency poignantly expressed in August 2022 that the persistent livelihood crisis has pushed workers to the brink.
The majority of contractors pushing these inhumane employment contracts have ties to the IRGC or other government entities.
Furthermore, a staggering report from Etemad newspaper unveiled that, between March and December 2022, 23 workers from various provinces committed suicide. The findings were chilling: every 12 days, on average, a worker attempted to end their life. The key reasons pointed to terminations, wage discrepancies, and conflict with employers.
Etemad spotlighted the heart-rending tale of Khosrow, a war veteran from Sannar, who self-immolated in August 2022, despairingly voicing his relentless livelihood struggles. Another harrowing account tells of Mohammad, a worker from Khalilabad, who killed his two children and then himself in December 2022.
By holding workers in such precarious positions, these contractors are not only denying them their fundamental rights to protest and strike but are also ignoring the wide-ranging societal implications.
The rising suicide rates amongst Iranian workers signal a dire need for employment reform. As families mourn and communities grapple with the loss, the consequences of exploiting vulnerable workers are becoming devastatingly clear.
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