A Historical Overview of Iran’s Engagement with Labor Issues, Misconceptions and Challenges in Understanding the Worker–State Relationship, and a Proposed Framework
Abstract
Various historical studies indicate that in the Islamic Republic of Iran, no government has ever come to power under which workers experienced meaningful political participation in shaping politico-economic decisions or the production system. No successful labor party was able to endure, present an effective political agenda, or actively participate in policy-making within the ruling administration. The only available avenues for workers were unions, protests, and strikes, through which they could claim their individual rights. As a result, even the worker’s own self-perception has been shaped by a framework in which the “worker” is seen merely as a laboring figure without power, unable to think beyond subsistence and livelihood.
In this article you read about:
The Islamic Republic’s Understanding and Approach to Labor Issues to Date
- The Qajar Era and the First Encounters with Labor Movements: Iran’s first labor experience began in the Qajar era, both domestically and through migrant workers in the Caucasus. Early labor unions like Hemat emerged abroad and later influenced worker organizing and strikes during the Constitutional Revolution.
- .The Consolidation and Intensification of Socialist–Communist Ideas in the Labor Sphere During the Pahlavi Period: During the Pahlavi era, Iran’s proximity to the Soviet Union fostered the spread of communist influence in labor movements and intellectual circles, leading to the formation of the Communist Party of Iran. While the second Pahlavi promoted industrial growth with pro-capitalist rhetoric, labor policies were largely shaped by fears of a leftist uprising, prompting pro-worker legislation to prevent unrest.
- The Ambiguous Status of Labor in the Islamic Revolution: In the Islamic Republic, leftist-Islamist influences and the rise of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s government reinforced socialist labor views. Workers briefly gained political participation during the Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, but this was short-lived and not rooted in labor identity. After the war, labor concerns returned to economic and legal issues within a securitized environment.
Problems Arising from a Misunderstanding of the Relationship Between the Government and Workers
The reflection of this misunderstanding is observable in various areas, manifesting itself as issues and threats. Some of these problems include:
- Legislation: Laws and policy documents focus narrowly on workers’ economic needs, viewing them as potential security threats if dissatisfied, while neglecting any structured institutional relationship between the state and workers.
- Public Perception: Policy-making has led society to view workers’ demands as absolute rights. This puts the government in a difficult position—refusing demands leads to accusations of bias toward capitalists, while accepting them worsens economic strain.
- Labor Market: Strict labor laws favor workers but ignore market realities. This discourages investment, burdens both private and public sectors, and creates a situation where neither employers nor workers are satisfied, leading to ineffective or unenforced regulations.
Proposed Policy: Rebuilding the Government–Worker Relationship Through a Political Participation Plan:
Rebuild state–worker ties through real decision-making roles, union involvement, shared ownership in privatization, and engaging workers in national projects to boost motivation and cohesion.
This study was conducted at Eshraq Institute of Science and Politics by Masoumeh Nadiri in 2020
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