30 Workers in Iran Die in Mine Accidents Over Past 15 Months

In the past 15 months, 30 workers in Iran have died in mine accidents and collapses amidst protests by thousands of miners over poor working conditions and wage grievances.

On Thursday, Iran's Etemad reported on the "exploitation" of mine workers, noting that in addition to fatal accidents, job insecurity is a significant concern.

The report highlighted that thousands of coal, copper, iron ore, and chrome miners across Iran have staged protests lasting from several hours to weeks over the past 27 months.

Etemad's report indicated that over 83 percent of these protests demanded wage increases and addressed delayed payments, with coal miners demonstrating for extended periods.

The newspaper also pointed out that over the past two decades, mine safety and job security for workers have drastically declined, particularly in privately owned mines. Workers are increasingly employed on unstable contracts, ranging from one to three months, often with promissory notes.

The "Zemestan-Yurt mine" incident is still cited as a symbol of miners' oppression and one of the most significant documented cases of mine safety issues in Iran over the last two decades. During a 2017 explosion at the Yurt coal mine in Golestan province in north Iran, 43 workers died. At the time, none had insurance for hazardous jobs, and they had not been paid for months.