Iranian nurses assaulted, dismissed after protesting poor working conditions - report

Nurses at Fayazbakhsh Hospital in Tehran, Iran, have faced assault, detention, and dismissal after staging a strike to protest severe working conditions, according to Iran International. The nursing staff reportedly began their strike on July 30, citing overwhelming workloads, low pay, and critical staff shortages.

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We are nurses, not slaves, and we will not submit to forced labor.

Reports indicate that many nurses were beaten and detained by authorities, with their mobile phones confiscated. Following the strike, hospital leadership allegedly suspended and dismissed numerous staff members, though the exact number remains unconfirmed. Protests over similar issues have also occurred in Iranshahr and Ilam, according to Radio Zamaneh.

The Nurses’ Protest Coordination Council highlighted that some nurses are owed up to 10 months in back wages and have seen little improvement in their economic standing. The council issued a statement emphasizing their demand for fair labor, stating, "We are nurses, not slaves, and we will not submit to forced labor."

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Implementing the special allowance is the only solution to compensating for the wage gap between different groups in the Health Ministry. Certainly, the special allowance, together with the ‘recruitment allowance,’ can help address salary disparities.

Iranian authorities and hospital administration have not yet publicly commented on the reported actions. However, Dr. Yousef Rahimi, vice president of the Supreme Council of the Nursing Organization, has urged the presidential office to allocate additional resources and introduce special allowances for nurses. He warned that current salaries, around 25 million tomans, are insufficient for living expenses, potentially leading nurses to migrate or abandon their jobs, ultimately impacting healthcare quality. A package reportedly under review by Mehr News Agency includes measures like boarding houses and tax exemptions for nurses.

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When income is insufficient to meet living costs, workers choose to migrate to other countries or leave their jobs. Even if they do not choose professional migration or travel abroad, they lack sufficient motivation to provide services and work without concentration. Ultimately, those receiving healthcare services suffer from these conditions.