Soaring Prices Pose Immense Burden On Daily Life - Labor Activist

An Iranian labor activist has raised concerns over the increasing prices of red meat and chicken putting increased pressure on household incomes.

Eid-Ali Karimi, Executive Secretary of Qazvin Labor House, made the comments amid the government's delay in holding the meeting of the Supreme Labor Council, which plays a crucial role in determining workers' salaries in the state-controlled economy.

Karimi criticized, "red meat is over 5,000,000 rials ($10) per kilogram, and chicken is over 1,000,000 rials ($2). The increase in these prices places an immense burden on workers." He emphasized that the rising costs of essential items have made it increasingly challenging for households to make ends meet.

"If a worker wants to buy three kilograms of red meat and five kilograms of chicken to feed his family of four per month, he has to spend more than a quarter of his salary. This leaves little room for covering basic expenses like rent, daily necessities, and education for his children," Karimi said.

Officials have stated that the monthly minimum wage, currently less than $150, only suffices for nine days of a family's livelihood. The resulting financial struggles for workers and their families are further exacerbated by soaring inflation rates.

Furthermore, house rents have surged by more than 100%, leaving many workers with a major portion of their earnings dedicated only to housing costs. Karimi noted that this situation forces workers to take on multiple jobs, often working long hours, just to cover basic living expenses.