Iran Announces 60 Per Cent Minimum Wage Increase During War
Iran’s government has announced a minimum wage increase of more than 60 per cent amid ongoing military conflict with the United States and Israel. The minimum wage adjustment was announced several months after anti-government protests, which were triggered by public dissatisfaction over poor economic conditions.
Iran adjusts its minimum wage annually to account for inflation, which has surged due to international sanctions in the months preceding the war with the United States and Israel, which has been ongoing since 28 February.
The minimum wage increase was announced by Iran’s Minister of Labour on Sunday, 15 March. According to the Tasnim news agency, the minister stated that “with government approval”, the monthly minimum wage would increase from 103 million Iranian rials (approximately IDR 1.3 million) to 166 million Iranian rials (approximately IDR 2.1 million) in the next Persian calendar year, which will begin in the coming days.
A similar announcement was made regarding increases in child allowances.
According to the Bonbast monitoring website, Iran’s currency was trading at approximately 1.47 million Iranian rials per US dollar.
Protests against Iran’s economic conditions erupted in December, triggered by high living costs and depreciation of the national currency. The demonstrations expanded rapidly into nationwide anti-government protests, calling for an end to clerical leadership in Iran, which has held power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian authorities have cracked down harshly on the protests, which according to human rights organisations have killed thousands of people. This situation prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten military intervention against Iran.
The United States and Israel launched large-scale military attacks against Iran in late February. Although Trump’s stated objectives have shifted, he has repeatedly called on the Iranian people to seize the opportunity to rise up and take control of their country.