January 18, 2004

OPEN LETTER

To labour organisations worldwide

Workplace deaths in Iran-Khodro

car-manufacturing factory

Dear Colleagues:

I am sure you are aware of the tragic fatalities of 25 year old Payman Raziloo and 22 year old Omid Oladi at the state-run Iran-Khodro factory. After fainting on the job, they died a few hours later. Their deaths are the result of enormous pressures and inhuman working conditions in Iran. Two fatalities within a 3-month period is testimony to the fact that many more are injured, disabled and killed at their workplaces without news of these events being reported.

Workers of Iran-Khodro factory have protested the deaths of their co-workers but their protests have been violently repressed; many have consequently been fired. Now fifteen workers on strike are also at risk of being fired.

As I write to you, their strike in opposition to the inhuman working conditions and the death of their co-workers continues. They need your support and solidarity. I urge you to:

* Send a group of inspectors to investigate the workers’ situation in Iran-Khodro and working conditions in Iran as soon as possible.

* Support the protests of the workers at Iran Khodro in opposition to the deaths of their co-workers and poor working conditions.

* The Islamic Republic in Iran is responsible for the death of these two workers. This regime should be condemned by your Confederation and the international community for imposing such a death trap at work places. It should be condemned for suppressing workers who are expressing their objection to the death of their co-workers and unacceptable working conditions.

I look forward to your immediate response regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Shahla Daneshfar

On behalf of the Worker-communist Party of Iran

Email address: Shahla_daneshfar@yahoo.com

Editor of “workers”. www.kargaran.org

Tel: 0044 777 98 98 968