Who are those who do not represent the workers!

(Cultural society in support of workers)

17-8-1383

The new Conditions

‘The state and workers/management groups have signed a deal in the presence of ILO delegates to show their agreement to review article 6 of the Labour legislation. This document has been signed with the aim of strengthening and developing trade societies (syndicates) . This agreement mentions the need to correct the existing regulation dealing with trade societies as soon as possible. The regulation covers the constitution, activities and limits of authority of such societies as well as further regulation governing them as stipulated in article 126 of the Labour legislation. The tripartite delegates announced their agreement regarding a review of the law dealing with setting up ‘Islamic Shoras’ ( societies) with a view to strengthen their activity in accordance with protocols 87 and 98.

(report by IRNA_ news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran 14-7-1383)

Congratulations are in order. After three years the mountain has given birth to a mouse. Fundamental protocols of the ILO are mandatory for all member countries and according to international legislation, member countries cannot devise and pass internal policies in such a manner that they contradict these protocols.

Article 6 of the labour legislation of the Islamic regime is such that it is forbidden to setup and register independent workers organisations , it only recognises workers organisations which cannot be considered independent workers organisation according to ILO standards and regulations. In other words organisations where the state and the management directly participate in deciding the competence and validity the workers representatives and the method of election . Both these interventions constitute violation of ILO regulation and international standards regarding the formation of independent workers organisations.

More than 50 years have passed since the ratification of protocols 98 and 87 of the ILO. Iran’s ministry of Labour has once more signed an undertaking confirming its obligation to follow these protocols and to prepare the conditions for the necessary changes to the legislation. The interesting point is that in order to comply with tripartite principles this ‘deal’ has been signed by representatives of the state, management and “workers representatives” . But which “workers representatives” ?

According to which international convention is ‘Khaneh kargar” (worker’s house) considered a true representative of Iranian workers? First of all the legitimacy and authorisation for setting up ‘Khaneh kargar’ is based on article10 of the legislation governing political parties and it therefore operates as an ideological , political party.

Secondly the delegates in Khaneh kargar are at best selected by ‘Islamic shoras’ ( societies) and trade societies in factories, production and service units and Iranian workers have often complained vehemently about the selection procedure in such organisations which are also contrary to ILO regulation. It should be asked how did the delegates from ILO ( whose presence in Iran is most opportune and this gave Iranian workers hope) witnessed the signing of the deal by ‘representatives of Iranian workers”?

Although under the current circumstances the state itself is a major employer and its representatives in the tripartite committees cannot be considered independent and the tripartite ‘principle’ in itself is not beneficiary to workers , the additional problems remain that unfortunately those who signed the deal as ‘workers representatives , are not true representatives of Iranian workers. It is therefore necessary that the respected delegates from ILO , who are determined to see Iran adhering to these protocols take up steps so that through various general meetings , genuine representatives of Iranian workers are elected so that they can participate in tripartite meetings and decide about their future .