Category: Labor and Guilds

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, Bandar Imam Khomenei, Bandar-Abbas, Fulad, Isfahan, Khoram Abad, khorramshahr, Khuzestan, Mashhad, Pabdana, Qazvin, Rasht, Shiraz, South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company, Tabriz, Tehran, zanjan
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, October 2

This Saturday and Sunday, a group of environmental activists of Sanandaj in the vicinity of Vahdat Dam gathered to protest against the years-long negligence from local authorities in addressing the area’s unsafe drinking water. Because of the city water is contaminated, residents are forced to carry water from the springs surrounding the city.

Sunday, October 3

Employees of coal mining company Pabdana in Kerman Province assembled this Sunday at their workplace entrance gate and protested the company’s low wages, arguing that, compared to state-owned mining companies, private companies such as Pabdana pay employees less for longer hours.

About 400 drivers of the transport unit of South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company, for a second consecutive day, assembled to protest the company’s decision to change their contracts. The new agreements are set up so that that workers will  be employed by a contractor rather than the company, meaning lower wages and fewer benefits.

In Bandar Imam Khomeini, a number of workers working for subsidiary companies of Persian Gulf Holding in the petrochemical special zone assembled to protest against wage discrimination. They asked for a direct contract with the company rather than contractors who enforce lower wages and harder work.

The retirees of the Social Security Organization assembled in front of this organization’s buildings in cities of Ahvaz, Rasht, Kermanshah, KHORAM-Abad, Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Qazvin, to ask for their demands. Their demands included levelling up pensions in proportion with the poverty line, enforcing the equating wages act, enforcing Article 96 of Social Security Act, addressing the issues regarding supplementary insurance, receiving end-of-year bonuses and taking work records in difficult-dirty-and-dangerous jobs into pension calculations.

A number of teachers and educators protested in front of the Parliament building in Tehran and the Ministry of Education’s buildings in the cities of Ahvaz, Shiraz, Zanjan, Darab, Bandar-Abbas and Isfahan. They asked for better enforcement of the Equating Wages Act for retirees and the Ranking Plan Act.

Personnel of the Municipality of Khorramshahr assembled in front of the government building to protest against a 6-month payment delay and a 10-month-unpaid insurance premium.

Retirees of the steel company Fulad protested in front of the company’s headquarters in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces. They asked for levelling up their pension in proportion with the poverty line and enforcing the Equating Wages Act and addressing the problems of supplementary insurance.

A number of Haft-Tappeh’s workers continued to protest on the sixth day of their strike.

Monday, October 4

A number of students and alumni of pharmacology assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Tehran to protest against the monopoly on establishing pharmacies. They asked for the acceleration in enforcing the new regulations thereby the establishment of pharmacies in deprived areas would be facilitated.

On the seventh day, the workers of Haft-Tappeh company went out on strike. They assembled in front of the governorate building in Shush city.

Several workers for private coal mining companies in Kuhbanan county went on strike for the sixth consecutive day at their place of work. The workers said that, despite higher productivity and better quality of coal, they have been paid 4 to 5 million tomans less than workers of state-owned companies. Reportedly, in Kuhbanan County, more than 3000 workers are working for these private coal mining companies.

A group of personnel of social emergency workers of state welfare organization assembled in front of the parliament in Tehran and demanded changing work contract party from private to state section as well as the approval of the social emergency bill by parliament.

A group of retirees and working personnel of airline company Homa assembled in front of the building of Planning and Budget Organization. The retirees said that, despite promises from their supervisors, pensionsv for last month have not  been paid.

Tuesday, October 4

On the eighth day of their strike, Haft-Tappeh’s workers assembled in front of the governorate building in Shush city and then marched through the streets.

More than 500 workers of private companies, who are working on copper mining Sungun Varzaghan, assembled and went out on strike against low wages and hard work conditions.

Workers of the petrochemical special zone, including Persian Gulf Holding, assembled and demanded equal wage for equal work according to article 38 of Iran’s labour code and ILO Convention No. 100.

Wednesday, October 5

In response to recent violence against women (such as Faezeh Maleki-Nia who was burned to death by her father) and the negligence of the police and judiciary to prosecute and punish the offenders, a group of civil activists assembled in front of the Building of the Ministry of Justice in Sanandaj.

On the ninth day of the strike, in Shush city, Haft-Tappeh workers assemble again in front of the governorate building and then marched toward the building of the ministry of the judiciary.

For the second day, workers of private companies working on copper mining Sungun Varzaghan, refused to work and assembled at their workplace. These workers had spent last night in their tents in the same place of assembly.

 

Thursday, October 6

Following the protest of women in Sanandaj on previous day, several women protested in Marivan and asked that the case of Faezeh Maleki-Nia (who was burned by her father) be addressed, and called for an end to violence against women.

In Khorramshahr, a number of citizens assembled to protest against negligence and shortcomings of the municipality in collecting garbage. As a demonstration of protest, they piled up garbage bags in front of the municipality building.

In their tenth days of strike, Haft-Tappeh workers continued to protest in front of the governorate building in Shush.

A number of workers of Non-Industrial Operations Company Pazargad in Pardis Jam Town went out on strike at the workplace.

 

 

 

Three workers, Including a Child, Killed in Zahedan Due to Unsafe Conditions; One Worker Injured in Shiraz

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Baloch, Ghanbarzehi, Musa Ghanbarzehi, Naser Ghanbarzahi, Rokna, working conditions, workplace safety, Zahedan

In recent days, in Zahedan, three workers, including a child, died in a work accident. In Shiraz, one additional worker was injured. Iran ranks 102nd in workplace safety out of 189 countries.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, on Thursday, October 7, a worker was injured severely at the workplace. A young worker’s hand stuck between a trolley and wall lift while moving items to the top floor of the store. After firefighters freed his hand, the emergency response team transferred him to the hospital.

According to Baloch Campaign, In Zahedan, on Tuesday, October 5, three workers, one of whom was a minor, lost their lives while digging a well due to falling well walls.

Two of these workers have been identified as  16-year-old Naser Ghanbarzehi and Musa Ghanbarzehi.

Activist and Teacher Aziz Ghasemzadeh Still Incommunicado in Detention

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News, Prisoners, Students
activist detained, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, educator arrested, freedom of expression, Ghasemzadeh, Gilan, Gilan province, Rusdar, Security forces, Teacher arrested, teacher detained

After eight days, teacher and union activist Aziz Ghasemzadeh is still  incommunicado in a detention facility of the intelligence office in Rudsar County in Gilan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ghasemzadeh has so far been denied access to a lawyer, phone calls and in-person visits.

On September 26 this year, security forces arrested the educator at his parents’ home in Rudsar. During the arrest, security forces inspected the house and confiscated several of Ghasemzadeh’s personal belongings.

The arrest took place the day after working and retired teachers held protests in 36 cities across the country, which were organized by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations.

According to HRANA, Ghasemzadeh is still being denied access to his lawyer and his temporary detention period has been extended. As of this writing, the charges against him are unknown.

 

 

Nine Fatal Work Accidents in Recent Days Due to Unsafe Work Conditions

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Afghanistan, Ghaem Shahr, Kashmar City, Labor regulations, Mazandaran province, Neyshabur, Rajaei Port, Razavi Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan Province, Rokna, Shaban, Tehran, unsafe conditions, workplace safety

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, nine workers have recently lost their lives in separate accidents due to unsafe workplace conditions.

Last Wednesday, September 29, a labor source reports that in Alborz Province, a gas leak caused the suffocation of three workers led to their death before emergency forces arrived. Reportedly, these workers were hired to illegally branch off the gas pipe for a villa house.

In another accident, on Friday, October 1, in Kashmar City located in Razavi Khorasan, a worker fell into a hundred-meter-deep well and died before reaching the hospital.

That same day in Tehran, a 26-year-old worker of Afghanistan nationality died in a fire accident.

According to Rokna, on Friday, October 1, in Rajaei Port, an operator lost his life due to a rupture of wire rope of a 140-ton crane.

In Isfahan, a construction worker died due to falling debris. He later died in the hospital from severe injuries.

In a similar accident, on Saturday, October 2, in Neyshabur a city in Razavi Khorasan Province, a construction worker died due to the fall from the wall of an old building.

On that day, in Ghaem Shahr in Mazandaran province, a work accident at a construction site took another victim. Reportedly, the victim, Hassan Shaban, 32 years old, was working without having any safety equipment and died after falling from the fourth floor.

Teachers Union Activist Aziz Ghasemzadeh Arrested in Gilan

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Labor and Guilds, News, Prisoners
Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Education in Iran, Gilan, Gilan teachers and education staffs union, Teacher unions, Teachers union activist

On Sunday, September 26, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, the spokesman of the Gilan Teachers and Education Staffs union, was arrested at his father’s house.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Coordination Council of Iranian Education Associations’ channel,  agents searched the house and confiscated Mr. Ghasemzadeh’s personal belongings during the arrest.

As of this writing, the whereabouts of the detainee and the charges against him are unknown.

 

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HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Assaluyeh, Bandar, Basht, Boyer-Ahmad, Fars, Fars Province, Haft Tappeh, Ilam, Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Kangan Petroleum, Karname-Sabz, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh, Kut Abdollah, Pars Ghodrat
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, September 18

Several workers of Tehran Azadi Stadium, a group of workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality in Khuzestan, a group of Bandar Imam Petrochemical workers, a group of dismissed workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company, Job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the 15th consecutive day in Tehran, a group of workers in Assaluyeh, a group of medical staff from Basht city, and workers of Pars Ghodrat Company in Kangan Petroleum Refinery, all called on their demands to be addressed in protest rallies. Also, teachers and educators in at least eight provinces, including Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, Fars, Alborz, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, and Ilam held protest rallies.

 

Teachers and educators in at least eight provinces, including Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, Fars,
Alborz, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, and Ilam:

Workers of Tehran Azadi Stadium:

Workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality in Khuzestan:

Bandar Imam Petrochemical workers:

Fired workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Workers in section 14 of Assaluyeh:

Medical staff from Basht city:

Workers of Pars Ghodrat Company in Kangan Petroleum Refinery:

 

Sunday, September 19:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz for a sixteenth day in a row in Tehran, a group of retirees of the Isfahan Steel Fund, and Khuzestan Steel Fund, shareholders of the Ghaem Commercial Complex in Tehran, and a group of employed and retired teachers in Mashhad called for their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

 

Retirees of the Isfahan Steel’s Fund, and Khuzestan Steel Fund:

Shareholders of the Ghaem Commercial Complex in Tehran:

Teachers in Mashhad:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

 

Monday, September 20

For the 17th day in a row, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz, teachers in Tehran, a number of workers in Dehdasht Municipality in Kohgiluyeh, a number of workers in the Fajr Jam gas refinery, and a group of fired workers in Ahvaz Municipality called for their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

 

workers in the Fajr Jam gas refinery:

Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers:

 

Tuesday, September 21

A group of teachers and educators in the provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Kurdistan, and Khuzestan, a number of workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality, a group of Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers for the 18th consecutive day in Tehran, a number of Azovico shareholders in Tehran, villagers of Angelas in Hamadan, and a group of contract workers on the Tehran metro held rallies this Tuesday.

 

Teachers and educators in the provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Kurdistan, and Khuzestan:

Workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz teachers for the 18th day in Tehran:

Azovico shareholders in Tehran:

Villagers of Angelas in Hamadan:

 

Wednesday, September 22

A group of employees of integrated banks in the cities of Tabriz and Tehran, a group of Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers for the 19th consecutive day in Tehran, and a group of workers of West Karun Power Generation Company protested this Wednesday.

 

Employees of joined banks in the cities of Tabriz and Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz teachers in Tehran:

Workers of West Karun Power Generation Company:

 

Thursday, September 23

A group of teachers and educators in the cities of Hamedan, Sari, Abadan, Zanjan, Shahroud, Mamasani, Divandere, Ardabil, Yazd, Qazvin, Kuhdasht, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Tabriz, Karaj, Arak and Qom, and a group of Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers for the twentieth consecutive day Tehran rallied on Thursday.

 

Teachers and educators in the cities of Hamedan, Sari, Abadan, Zanjan, Shahroud, Mamasani, Divandere, Ardabil, Yazd, Qazvin, Kuhdasht, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Tabriz, Karaj, Arak and Qom:

Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers:

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Abadan, Abadan municipality, ahvaz, Amin Khuzestan Fund, Arvand Free Zone, Bushehr, Cryptoland exchange, Fajr, Galltut, Hoveyzeh, Karname-Sabz, Khorrambad, Rezvanshahr, Shafa Rud, Shiraz, Zarand Kerman Province
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Saturday, September 11

Several workers of Abadan Municipality and workers of Arvand Free Zone in Abadan, some  workers of Hoveyzeh Municipality, a group of teachers in Ahvaz, a group of Job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the eighth consecutive day in Tehran, shareholders of Amin Khuzestan Fund in Ahvaz, and a group of teachers in Shiraz, in Protest rallies called on their demands to be addressed this Sunday.

Workers of Abadan Municipality:

Workers of Hoveyzeh Municipality:

Protest of teachers in Ahvaz:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran:

Shareholders of Amin Khuzestan Fund:

Protest of teachers in Shiraz:

Sunday, September 12

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the ninth day in a row in Tehran, a group of retirees of the Isfahan Steel’s Fund, and a number of shareholders of Saipa Diesel Company protested on Sunday.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Retirees of the Isfahan Steel’s Fund:

Shareholders of Saipa Diesel Company:

Monday, September 13

A number of shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange in Tehran, a group of workers at the Galltut Coal Mine in Zarand in Kerman province, job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the tenth consecutive day in Tehran, and a number of workers at the Shafa Rud dam in Rezvanshahr county in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran:

Workers of the Galltut Coal Mine in Zarand:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Tuesday, September 14

A number of employed and retired teachers and a group of teachers of the Literacy Movement in Tehran, a group of teachers in Khorramabad, a number of teachers in Ahvaz, a few lost cryptoland exchange shareholders in Tehran, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the 11th day in a row in Tehran, a group of third-party workers at the Fajr Jam refinery, and workers of Steam company in Bushehr, rallied to call on their demands to be addressed.

Workers of Steam company in Bushehr:

Protest of teachers in Tehran:

Protest of teachers in Lorestan:

Protest of teachers in Khuzestan:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Retiree teachers in 2020:

Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran:

Workers of the Fajr Jam refinery:

Wednesday, September 15, and Thursday September 16

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the thirteenth day in a row, in Tehran, a number of medical interns at Mofid Hospital in Tehran, a group of workers at Bandar Emam Petrochemical Company, and a number of medical students at the Azad University in Mashhad rallied to call on their demands to be addressed.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Medical interns at Mofid Hospital in Tehran:

Medical students at the Azad University in Mashhad:

Workers of Bandar Emam Petrochemical:

Revolutionary Court Sentences Farzaneh Zilabi, Defense Lawyer for the Haft Tappeh Workers’ Case, to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News, Prisoners, Women
ahvaz, Ahvaz Revolutionary court, Emtedad, Farzaneh Zilabi, Haft Tappeh, Haft Tappeh workers' case, Nasser Zarafshan, Zarafshan, Zilabi

Farzaneh Zilabi, the defense lawyer for the Haft Tappeh workers’ case, was sentenced by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to one year in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting EMTEDAD, in addition to the prison sentence, Zilabi has received a two year ban from leaving the country.

Nasser Zarafshan, Farzaneh Zilabi’s lawyer, commented on the sentence.

“Regarding the charges against my client,” Zarafshan said, “‘gathering and collusion’, ‘spreading lies’, and ‘insulting the leadership’ were acquitted by the Revolutionary Court but she is sentenced to one-year imprisonment and two years ban on leaving the country on the charge of ‘propaganda against the regime’. This is the verdict issued against my client in the primary court.”

Zarafshan added, “The previous order on Ms. Zilabi’s six-month ban from practicing law has apparently been dropped.”

On May 16 of this year, after Farzaneh Zilabi’s interrogation session in the Ahvaz court, Nasser Zarafshan stated that “Besides issuing a bail, the case investigator has issued a six-month ban from practicing law for Ms. Zilabi” and had mentioned that his client, Ms. Zilabi, is “paying for the defending the Haft Tappeh workers”.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Environment, Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Ahvaz Municipality, Bandar Imam Petrochemical, Cryptoland exchange, Izeh, Izeh city, Karname-Sabz, Kermanshah Jihad Nasr, khorramshahr, Mehrafarin, Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil, Tehran, Yasuj
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Friday, September 3 and Saturday September 4

Several job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran, a group of workers in Yasuj Municipal Services, a number of dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz, personnel of Kermanshah Jihad Nasr, and Khorramshahr municipal workers held protest rallies on Friday September 3, and Saturday September 4.

Job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil:

Instructor Job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Workers of Yasuj Municipal Services:

Dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality:

Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Sunday, September 5

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the second day in a row in Tehran, a number of preschool teachers in Izeh city, a group of job  Literacy Movement Instructor applicants for the second consecutive day in Tehran, a number of Khorramshahr municipal workers, a group of Mehrafarin educators in Tehran, and independent contractor teachers in Yazd called on their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Instructor job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Mehrafarin educators in Tehran:

Preschool teachers in Izeh city:

Monday, September 6

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the third day in a row in Tehran, a number of  shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors for the third day in a row in Tehran, a few workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-
Industry Co., a group of educators in Varamin, educators of Dezful city Literacy Movement, and a group of residents of Ghiazi village in Shadegan held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Educators of Dezful City’s Literacy Movement:

Job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange in Tehran:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Educators in Varamin:

Villagers of Ghiazi in Shadegan:

Tuesday, September 7

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the fourth day in a row in Tehran and Bandar Imam Petrochemical staff rallied in protest this Tuesday.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical:

Wednesday, September 8

A group of telecommunication company personnel for a second consecutive day, several workers of oil and gas projects in Tehran, a group of shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project, and a group of teachers from different cities in front of the parliament building in Tehran rallied this Wednesday. In Tehran, a group of citizens and civil activists rallied protests in front of the Pakistani embassy in support of the Afghan people.

Telecommunication company personnel:

Workers of oil and gas projects:

Shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project:

Rally of teachers in front of the parliament building:

Thursday, September 9

For the sixth day in a row, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed. Many citizens and civil activists held rallies reacting to the recent changes in Afghanistan in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Bushehr, and Kerman.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran:

Rallies of citizens in support of the people of Afghanistan and against Taliban:

Friday, September 10

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the seventh day in a row in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

60% of Workers in Iran are Uninsured, a New Statistical Report Says

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Labor and Guilds, News
employee benefits, Fathollah Bayat, insurance, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Keyhan, Union of Contract Workers, worker's rights

A statistical report published by the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly shows that 60% of the country’s workers are uninsured.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Keyhan, this means that the employed person is not only deprived of insurance benefits but the years he or she worked will not be counted as part of his or her working records.

As a result, the worker will be deprived of both unemployment insurance and retirement benefits when they need them.

Mentioning that the insurance status of workers is not acceptable at all, Fathollah Bayat, chairman of the Union of Contract Workers, said, “The government can identify uninsured workers in various ways, including self-declaration.”

“The government must provide a registration system for uninsured workers to identify these people and must think of a plan to insure them,” Bayat added. “If a worker is not insured, s/he has no future, and in case of work accidents, disability, or retirement s/he will have no income.”