Iran arrests eight over workers' strike at southern gas field

Iranian authorities have arrested eight people for "leading" a workers' strike at a key gas site in the south of the country, local media reported on Sunday.

"Eight main leaders of the workers' strike in the South Pars projects have been arrested by the intelligence services," Akbar Pourat, the deputy local governor, was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

Some 40,000 people are employed at the South Pars/North Dome mega-field, the largest known gas reserve in the world, which Iran shares with Qatar.

"Eight companies and subcontractors active in this area have been blacklisted for incitement to strike," Pourat added.

معاون سیاسی استاندار بوشهر: ۸ لیدر اصلی #اعتصاب_کارگری در منطقه #پارس_جنوبی دستگیر شدند. این لیدرها در منطقه پارس جنوبی از طریق فضای مجازی و حقیقی برای تداوم اعتصاب کارگری آن را مدیریت می‌کردند. اعتصاب کارگری شکسته شده و کارگران و کارکنان به محل کار خود بازگشته‌اند. pic.twitter.com/PBZL55EvRl

— فرارو (@fararu_news) May 14, 2023

In early May, local media reported the arrest of external contractors involved in supporting strike calls in the same area.

The authorities had announced in late April that they had begun replacing 4,000 workers who were striking to demand better wages and working conditions.

However, the pro-labour news agency ILNA reported that the strikers in South Pars had "continued to assert their union demands".

Their key calls included a "79 percent increase in wages", as well as ending discriminatory practices and allowing for freedom of association.

In 2022, Iran experienced several waves of strikes by teachers and bus drivers who denounced low salaries and the high cost of living.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in late April that some labour protests had been beneficial to the country because they helped the state understand workers' demands.

Iran's economy has long suffered under Western sanctions, having recently been hit by high inflation and a record devaluation of its national currency.