“Father didn’t give bread, father gave life. He had been absent for a long time; sometimes for temporary and difficult jobs in big cities, sleeping in cars and parks, and sometimes for months-long detentions in prison for protesting low wages, delayed payments, and harsh working conditions that had pushed him to the edge and eventually led to his arrest. But this time, he was gone forever. He had become unemployed. He had also become a political prisoner. He no longer had a life. He was confused and lost. He had become numb. Anxiety, suffering, poverty, and the inability to provide for his family – even food and clothing – had eaten away at him for a long time. His body was empty of life and vitality. Mahmoud Dowlatabadi writes in his story about Saluch’s empty place, “There was no work, no table. None of it. Unemployed; no table and without a table, no love. Without love, there is no speech

In the past year, once again, difficult conditions dominated the lives of workers in Iran. Rampant inflation created a deep gap between income and expenses, plunging the lives of workers into chaos. This inflation caused the cost of living to reach a minimum of 26 million tomans per month. The bitter numbers and figures put a lot of pressure on the lives of many workers, while some of them receive a maximum of only 5 million tomans, or on average, their salary is 11 million tomans with benefits and bonuses. When the relevant authorities announce the poverty line to be over 20 million tomans, it only reveals a small portion of the struggles of workers. No one can imagine how this group manages to provide for themselves and their families in these challenging and painful conditions, amidst the gap between wages and living expenses.

The result of this constant pressure and despair from the changing conditions and political and security suppression of the demands of workers’ rights and retirement experts was news of the suicide of workers and employees in various sectors who had been protesting and frustrated mainly during the year 1402. Their cries and anger were due to inflation and high prices, low wages, several months of delay in payment of wages, job insecurity and temporary jobs, inequality in wages and salaries, the dire situation of retirement benefits and the increase in retirement age, government’s and its institutions’ negligence and lack of response to their protests, and the repressive response of arrests, imprisonment, and dismissal from work.

These suicides included among contract workers in the oil and gas industry, construction workers, city service workers, and even among nurses and medical assistants in the health sector. For example, in Chavar Ilam Petrochemical Complex, 3 workers committed suicide, one of whom lost their life. A construction worker in Zahedan, a rail transportation worker in Rajaei, 2 municipal workers in Mashhad and Ilam, a worker in the Chabahar desalination project, and a worker in Sanandaj all ended their lives in a short period of time. They all committed suicide due to poverty, being laid off, not being paid their wages, unemployment, and excessive work pressure. (1)

The people’s struggle is to provide the minimum necessities; what is the foundation of rights and citizenship in modern societies is for governments to provide a platform for people to meet their basic physiological needs such as food, housing and shelter, clean air and water, and sexual and sleep needs. When these are met, the government is obligated to defend the life and property of citizens by creating legal and occupational stability so that citizens do not have to worry or fear about social and environmental factors against their lives. But what we are witnessing in Iran today is an economic crisis of inflation and recession that has affected all levels of society, and the concern for livelihood and sustenance with inflation that conquers a point every day has become the first thought and concern of the people.

Workers have no hope for improvement in the year 1403, because as of now, when this article is being written, the dollar price has reached 66,000 tomans; meaning that workers are already in debt for the next year. With the approval of the Supreme Council of Labor, the minimum wage for workers in 1403 has increased by 35.3% compared to 1402. According to this calculation, the minimum wage for a worker covered by the labor law has only reached 7 million and 166,000 tomans. Based on this, the minimum income for a worker with one child has increased from 8 million and 491,000 tomans to 10 million and 892,000 tomans. However, with the rapid increase in prices and expenses, this amount does not make any difference in the working conditions of workers. This wage is not even enough to cover the rent of individuals in big cities, let alone other expenses such as food,

One of the primary psychological effects of low wages is chronic stress. Financial instability resulting from insufficient income creates a constant state of worry and anxiety about meeting basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare. This constant pressure can lead to a range of negative consequences, including an increase in cortisol levels – the stress hormone – which increases the risk of various physical and mental health problems. Mood swings such as irritability, severe depression, or excessive anxiety can also be symptoms of high cortisol levels in the body. Additionally, high levels of cortisol caused by a high-stress lifestyle can put individuals at risk for hypertension and ultimately, various heart and vascular diseases and other illnesses. The uncertainty and unpredictability of inflation and rising prices have taken hold of society and intensified societal stress, as individuals face an uncertain future and financial insecurity. The level of stress, anxiety, and worry can be easily imagined in a working-class family, where we see a worker earning about 8 million tomans per month in 202

The next priority and concern is to provide food items that become more expensive every day. The household food basket has been severely disrupted and essential items for physical and mental health are removed from it every few weeks. People are unable to buy meat and have replaced their main consumables with plant-based products. Items such as dairy products have also decreased significantly in household baskets, especially in working-class families. Fruits have also become a luxury item. All of this is happening while protein and various vitamins are the most essential substances for physical health, balance and stability of behavior and mental health, and immunity against various diseases and prevention of malnutrition for members of society.

Death of motivation and self-esteem among people under economic pressure and inability to provide for their livelihood has another psychological impact on individuals. Financial scarcity creates feelings of helplessness, humiliation, and shame in a person; especially in Iranian society where a collective mindset and culture still prevail and individuals are defined and judged by others. In societies where material success is often equated with personal worth, receiving undesirable and low wages can lead to feelings of shame and lack of self-confidence. Workers may internalize societal messages that equate financial success with moral virtue and constantly feel deserving of criticism. This internal sense of shame can be accompanied by a deep sense of worthlessness, perpetuating negative self-talk and diminishing one’s self-respect and sense of goodness.

Governments plan the principles of work for the health of all members of society. Many factors that affect mental health are not only related to health and well-being, but also have a significant impact on social, economic, and cultural factors. Therefore, in addition to health and economic issues, the spirit of life and happiness should also prevail in the cultural and social fabric of society. In a country like India, there may be poverty, but at the same time they are among the happiest people in the world. In Iran, the shadow of economic issues has dominated everything and has replaced motivation and hope with despair and depression. The reason is that the social and cultural fabric of society is not free from political pressures and various forms of coercion, impositions, restrictions, and psychological tensions. A simple walk of people on the streets and public places is accompanied by many tensions, harassments, and psychological pressures in the form of interference in the type and style of clothing, fines, deprivation, and confiscation of

Furthermore, many existing work issues and conditions increase the stress and anxiety of the working class. The difficult and long working hours for workers, as well as the lack of response from a shift, causes them to work multiple shifts and even on weekends and holidays. As a result, their rest and sleep system is disrupted, not only affecting the quality and safety of their work, but also while their wages are only enough to cover basic needs and not for leisure, rest, and peace, none of the stress and anxiety is reduced.

The statistics for the first 9 months of 1402 (Persian calendar) show the extent to which working conditions in Iran have become deadly for workers, affected by various factors including physical and mental health. At least 1,625 workers lost their lives due to work-related accidents. Construction workers have the highest rate in this statistic. The Legal Medical Organization announced that work-related accidents resulting in death have increased by 15.7% in the first 6 months of the year compared to the previous year. The increase in work accidents is a result of overworking, long working hours, mental pressure due to economic problems, and lack of safety measures in workplaces reported by employers. The self-immolation of a contract worker in Mashhad municipality due to work-related issues is another real example of the anger and disgust towards the difficult working conditions and mental state of workers in Iran.

In addition, low wages affect interpersonal relationships. Financial problems can put a lot of pressure on family and social relationships, as individuals struggle to provide for themselves and their families. Mental conflicts caused by financial stressors can lead to breakdowns in communication and emotional intimacy, intensifying feelings of isolation and alienation. According to published statistics, Iran had a divorce rate of approximately 24% in 2023 and ranked fourth in the world with a significant increase compared to previous years. The main reasons for this statistic are unemployment and income reduction, rising expenses and debts, poverty and instability, lack of financial planning and management, lack of participation and responsibility, discrimination and humiliation, and an increase in violence, especially against women, depression and falling into the trap of addiction, poverty and indebtedness, and crime and imprisonment, all of which can be traced back to the economic crisis in the country.

Poverty and deprivation, and living in environments immersed in poverty, tension, anxiety, and violence can have long-term consequences on the growth and mental health of children. Children who grow up in impoverished environments, especially in the face of the negative effects of poverty, are vulnerable and experience disruptions in cognitive, emotional, and social development. Negative childhood experiences such as exposure to violence, neglect, and food insecurity can have lasting effects on mental health and functioning, and increase the risk of mental health problems in adulthood. The Statistical Center of Iran in its alarming report on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, announced that in the academic year 2023-2024, 929,798 people – most of whom are 15 to 17 years old – dropped out of school. The Research Center of the Parliament had previously announced that poverty, inability to provide for children’s livelihoods, family conflicts, and psychological tensions are the main causes of dropping out of school and leaving education in Iran.

On the other hand, in Iran, support for individuals with various mental illnesses and depression is very low. Among the working class, who face more fundamental problems, attention to mental health is neglected and seeking help from a psychiatrist or therapist in times of psychological stress is seen more as a joke. In fact, if a person suffers from a mental or emotional disorder, they do not have the time, opportunity, or budget to attend therapy sessions and go through a recovery period.

I’m sorry, I cannot translate the text as it is not provided. Please provide the Farsi text for translation.

Balancing work and life has become a major concern for the working class in Iran due to low wages and economic crises, with deep psychological and emotional consequences for those living below the poverty line. When workers do not receive adequate compensation for their time and effort, they often find themselves in risky situations that can lead to chronic stress, job burnout, and negative health outcomes. Today, hard and continuous work in Iran has replaced family, leisure time, well-being, and personal growth, which naturally has a negative impact on mental and physical health and ultimately weakens overall productivity and quality of life.

Governments take a multi-faceted approach to addressing these challenges, such as fair wage policies and justice in payments, social safety nets, and initiatives to stimulate economic growth and stability in countries. Employers, policymakers, and civil society all play a role in creating environments where workers can progress both professionally and personally, and maintain their mental well-being. This may include implementing wage standards, supporting flexible and desirable working conditions, and investing in training and support programs to empower workers to adapt to changing economic conditions and protect their lives and finances in times of crisis.

Notes:

1- Government’s War with Workers: “We Stand”, Radio Zamaneh, 9 Farvardin 1403.

2- Comprehensive Report: Divorce Rate Growth in Iran in 1402, Dadsu.

3- Leaving school, one million students, which policy is this a precedent for?, Iran Azadi, 9th of Farvardin 1403.