Speech by Oliya Alibeigi, Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Islamic Labor Councils of Iran. September 7th, 2024
In The name of God
Honorable Representatives of the National Labor Unions of BRICS Members,
Greetings and Respect,
On behalf of the national labor organizations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia for its gracious hosting of the 13th Assembly of the National Labor Unions of BRICS members, as well as to each of you distinguished members, for your presence and participation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As this is the first time, I have the honor to be present among you esteemed individuals, I find it necessary to briefly introduce our affiliated organization, the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils of the country, as one of the national labor organizations of my dear country, the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Labor Councils, as the main pillars of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils of the country, were established on 1363/10/30 (January 20, 1985) with the goal of ensuring Islamic justice and supporting workers in production, industrial, agricultural, and service units, following approval by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iranian Parliament)
According to the latest statistics published by the Ministry of Labor of the Islamic Republic of Iran, there are currently 2026 Islamic Labor councils representing dear workers at the level of production, industrial, agricultural, and service units across economic entities.
Moreover, the central cores of the Islamic Labor councils, known as the coordination center of Islamic Labor Councils, are established under Article 135 of the Labor Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They are present in 29 provinces and regions within provincial legal forums and assemblies, such as the Boards of Resolution and Settlement of Disputes, Committees for Difficult and Hazardous jobs, and the Assessment of Demands based in provincial Departments of Labor and Social Security, holding voting rights to address disputes between workers and employers.
Ultimately, the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor councils of the country, as the top- and highest-level organization, represents workers with voting rights, at both national and international levels and in forums such as the Supreme Labor Council. The primary task of this council is to draft and approve regulations and directives related to Labor relations and determine the annual minimum wage for workers nationwide.
Additionally, it participates in the supreme Technical protection Council, which addresses issues of safety, hygiene and workers health in the workplace.
It has membership in the Board of Trustees of the Social Security Organization, which supports and protects issues such as insurance, healthcare, and the retirement of our dear workers.
Distinguished Representatives of the National Labor Unions:
One of the important topics that must be considered a strategic goal for workers and job-seeking youth is education and skills training. Education and skills training are essential not only for individual success but also for increasing productivity in production and service units. This is because it enables workers to remain competitive, deliver their best performance in the workplace, help businesses succeed, and be better equipped to face challenges.
Fortunately, the Islamic Republic of Iran has provided suitable educational frameworks for workers. In the regard, with the establishment of the Technical and vocational Training Organization at the national, provincial, and country levels, as the authority for training and skill enhancement for workers and job-seeking youth, various initiatives and programs have been provided for offering education and skill assessment for workers and employees in economic enterprises. In this organization, more than 11,500 standards for classifying various trades and occupations have been developed, and their training and assessment are conducted in 659 government centers and over 22,000 Technical and vocational training is offered by the Free University. Additionally, with the establishment of over 4,100 workshop-based and inter-workshop training centers, valuable opportunities for skill development for workers in the country have been created.
However, we must acknowledge that the miraculous innovation in the emergence and development of knowledge-based economies has significantly impacted labor markets in most countries. Therefore, it is necessary for the International Labor Organization (ILO) to support, develop, and promote technical cooperation, especially of the new kind, by assisting governments, particularly those in developing countries, and to take effective steps to address these key needs.
Finally, I draw everyone’s attention to a poem by the great Iranian poet Saadi Shirazi, who beautifully states:
“Human beings are members of the body, having been created from the same essence.”
I believe that all humans, regardless of race or nationality, should feel a sense of responsibility towards each other and work together to establish social justice and quality of life. Unfortunately, the unjust and unilateral sanction imposed by the United States, along with their non-compliance with the JCPOA agreements and commitments, have led to the loss of investment opportunities and, consequently, increased production costs. As a result, the job market and employment prospects for educated youth and the livelihood of workers in my country have become difficult and challenging.
Therefore, I urge you, esteemed members of the BRICS trade unions, to request the International Labor Organization (ILO) and your own governments to take practical and appropriate measures to lift the unjust sanction targeting workers in my country and to refrain from supporting the unilateral and oppressive policies of the United States.
Thank you very much.
Oliya Alibeigi
Chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labour Councils, Islamic Republic of Iran
