A primary goal of Volunteer Activists (VA) is to enhance global awareness of the pressing labour challenges and worker protests taking place in Iran. Recognising the voices and experiences of Iranian workers on an international platform is vital for supporting the development of the labour movement and ensuring that workers’ demands are not overlooked. This role became particularly important during the period under study. Prolonged internet shutdowns significantly restricted the ability of workers and activists inside Iran to communicate their experiences and draw international attention to labour-related developments. The world's focus on the armed conflict and geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States further diminished the visibility of workers' struggles.

However, international attention serves a purpose beyond information-sharing alone. In interviews with worker activists, the importance of international recognition was repeatedly emphasised as a source of encouragement and psychological support. Knowing that their struggles are being documented and acknowledged internationally can strengthen workers’ sense of solidarity and reinforce their ability to continue organising under highly restrictive conditions.

Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the needs of Iranian workers and the demands of their trade unions allows international supporters to design more effective programmes and initiatives. With its established connections inside Iran, VA is well-positioned to provide this essential information and contribute to a more accurate understanding of labour developments in the country.

This report presents VA’s findings regarding labour-related issues and protests in Iran during the period January to June 2026. It marks the eighth instalment in a biannual series aimed at providing consistent updates on labour dynamics, workers’ grievances, and collective action within Iran.

The complexity of the Iranian labour landscape requires detailed and careful research to accurately represent the evolving challenges facing workers. This assessment draws on multiple sources, including reliable media reports, social media analysis, and discussions with VA’s contacts inside Iran. However, prolonged internet shutdowns during the reporting period significantly limited access to information and communication channels. As a result, this report may be less comprehensive than previous editions, particularly regarding developments that could not be independently verified or documented.

The research identified several significant trends regarding labour issues and protests in Iran between January and June 2026:

• Labour mobilisation continued at lower volumes, reflecting heightened repression and the constraints created by the armed conflict.
• Government efforts to restrict labour mobilisation increasingly extended beyond independent labour organisations and also affected formal, state-affiliated labour institutions, reflecting a broader narrowing of space for worker representation.
• The Iranian government introduced several measures intended to respond to workers’ economic concerns, including increasing the minimum wage and implementing wartime economic measures. However, these steps remained insufficient to address rising poverty among workers, mitigate the effects of inflation, or adequately support informal workers and other vulnerable groups.

• Workers increasingly relied on adaptive forms of mobilisation: Labour activism increasingly focused on defending existing rights and livelihoods rather than securing new gains. The organisation, timing, and forms of protest also adapted in response to heightened repression, security concerns, and a more restrictive operating environment.
• Labour mobilisation remained geographically widespread: Although the number of labour protests fell to 111, compared with previous years, collective action continued across different regions, highlighting the persistence of widespread labour grievances despite the increased risks of protesting and organising.
• Sustained labour pressure contributed to limited institutional openings and accommodation of workers’ demands: Some new mechanisms for worker participation and coordination were introduced, at least formally, while certain issues raised through protests were occasionally addressed. However, these developments remained limited and did not translate into broader improvements in workers’ rights or the ability to organise independently.
• Economic insecurity intensified across the workforce: Inflation, exchange-rate instability, wage arrears, and rising costs of essential goods significantly undermined workers’ purchasing power. These pressures deepened existing vulnerabilities and contributed to growing dissatisfaction among workers across sectors.
• War-related disruption intensified employment losses and insecurity: Reduced production, business disruption, and broader economic uncertainty following the outbreak of conflict contributed to layoffs, reduced working opportunities, and heightened insecurity, particularly among temporary workers, contractors, and informal workers in vulnerable sectors.
• The war had direct human consequences for workers and working communities: Workers were among those directly affected by the conflict, with casualties reported among people from different occupations, including teachers, municipal workers, and industrial workers. Beyond these immediate losses, the conflict also caused displacement and heightened insecurity among workers and their families.
• Digital campaigns and alternative forms of collective action faced significant constraints: Digital campaigns, petitions, and online information-sharing remained important tools for labour mobilisation. However, prolonged internet shutdowns restricted communication and limited the emergence of new digital initiatives during the reporting period.