While the special economic zone for petrochemicals is recognized as one of the most important hubs of the petrochemical industry in the country, reports and field evidence indicate widespread violations of workers' rights in some petrochemical companies in this area; a situation that, according to workers, has been created in favor of the owners and shareholders of these companies.
Protests and Security Responses
Workers from companies such as Rajal Petrochemical, Navidzar Chemical, and Razavi Petrochemical say that their professional demands and legal rights have been repeatedly ignored, and any protests regarding living conditions, unfair contracts, and job security have been met with security and judicial responses.
According to labor sources, instead of addressing the protests and complaints of workers, the Imam Port Prosecutor's Office and the Khuzestan Province Prosecutor's Office have effectively acted in the interests of the owners and managers of these companies; individuals who, according to protesters, have benefited from the economic and environmental resources of Khuzestan Province for years but do not take responsibility for workers' rights.
Pressure on Protesting Workers
Protesting workers say that in multiple instances, professional protests have been met with threats of dismissal, summons, detention, and security pressures. A clear example of this situation, as narrated by the workers of Razavi Petrochemical, has been the direct pressure on protesting workers instead of addressing managerial and employer violations.
Labor activists emphasize that the continuation of this approach has not only intensified dissatisfaction and distrust among workers but has also jeopardized the job security of thousands of specialized and local workers in the region. They are calling for serious intervention from independent oversight institutions and transparent scrutiny of the performance of petrochemical companies and the judicial system's handling of workers' protests.
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