A state source shed light on the deteriorating status of the work force and social situation for women in Iran. “Currently a large number of educated people from the country’s most credible universities have joined the growing population of waiters and janitors,” he said.
Abdullah Vatankhah, a labor union member, describes the situation as, “Right now people with bachelor’s degrees are willing to work as waiters and janitors in various organizations and companies.”
“Despite the fact that men and women need to interact in their work in city services, new gender segregation plans have led to many challenges for many people and many have lost their jobs,” said Issa Rostami, another regime official.
“There was a time when bank employees only had high-school education and those with diplomas were bank directors. These days, however, diploma graduates are forced to work as janitors,” said economy expert Zahra Karimi.
“Things are worse as women are used in Iran’s job market as the vitrine of various companies, and they are used more as tools and for jobs such as secretaries,” she added.
Rahmatollah Pourmousa, Secretary-General of Supreme Labor Council, sheds light on forged documents used by employers in Iran’s job market, and how these measures are used against workers’ interests.
“Some time ago I came across a file in which a mid-aged woman was expelled from work after 13-years of experience, without receiving her monthly paycheck, New Year’s bonus or a compensation, and through all these years the employee had her ID papers, knowing she didn’t have the necessary education. He took advantage of her as a result by always deducting her paycheck. In some cases employers have forged documents to force workers to return half of their paychecks,” he said.
Hossein Akbari, a member of the Workers Services Association says, “Currently women with bachelor’s degrees are working in welding workshops, and a graphics major is now a simple worker. Of course, there are many more like them and their numbers are increasing by the day. Furthermore, all these individuals prefer to not mention their degrees in order to get hired by a certain organization or workshop.” (State-run Asr-e Iran daily – September 23, 2015)
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