On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, the Italian Labor Union(UIL), one of the country’s largest trade unions representing over two million members, has expressed strong support for the labor movement in Iran. In a statement issued by its Marche regional branch on April 29, 2025, UIL denounced the long-standing repression of Iranian workers under both the former monarchy and the current clerical regime.
Established in 1950 and affiliated with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), UIL criticized the Iranian regime for its continued violations of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. Despite Iran being a signatory to multiple ILO agreements, the union noted that basic worker protections remain absent. “There is no legal or institutional safeguard for even the most basic workers’ rights in Iran,” the statement read.
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Women are disproportionately affected — female employment has dropped sharply, and women face systemic discrimination and frequent violations of their labor rights.
UIL contextualized these violations as part of a broader pattern of oppression endured by Iranian workers across decades. “From the Shah’s dictatorship to the current theocratic regime, workers have been systematically denied their rights,” the union stated, adding that the situation has reached a critical stage requiring urgent global attention.