Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 13
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Representatives from Iran's workers unions and employers are holding negotiations on wages for the next Iranian fiscal year (starting March 21).
The sides have been in intense talks as the last day of sessions this year since early Friday, ISNA news agency reported March 13.
The session is also attended by the Minister of Labor Ali Rabiei, Minister of Economy Ali Tayyeb Nia, and Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh.
So far, the employers have offered a 20-percent increase in the full package of minimum wage and bonuses, while the workers representatives are stressing 30 percent increase for the minimum wage.
The session is going to decide the wages for over 11 million Iranian workers in the following Iranian fiscal year.
This session was preceded by numerous ones before, all of which failed as the sides had much disagreement; but in the recent years, some sources have reported that the two sides' view have grown closer.
The workers of country's numerous factories and companies frequently go on strike. Last June some 5,000 mine workers in the city of Bafq in southeastern Yazd province went on strike for 40 days.
Also, some 1000 workers of Safa Rolling and Pipe Mills Co. held a three-day strike in early February. The workers congregated on the company's premises and demanded the company's authorities to pay their 4-month due wages as well as 16-month due insurance.
Last year workers' wages were increased by 25 percent.
Edited by CN