A] Prelude
For more information on pension systems, risk and coverage, feel free to visit our dedicated webpages:
https://expatpensionholland.nl/global-pillars-systems
https://expatpensionholland.nl/global-investments-risks-0
https://expatpensionholland.nl/global-social-security-coverage
For even more information feel free to visit the following external sites:
https://socialprotection.org/discover/publications/glimpse-iran%E2%80%99s-pension-funds
https://www.meinsurancereview.com/Magazine/ReadMagazineArticle?aid=40801
B] The issue
Recent data from Iran’s Forensic Medicine Organization reveals a troubling surge in workplace fatalities, with at least 1,900 people losing their lives in occupational accidents in the past year. This figure is nearly four times higher than the 455 deaths reported by the Social Security Organization for 2022, exposing a stark discrepancy between official agencies and raising serious concerns about the accuracy of government statistics and the effectiveness of occupational safety monitoring in Iran.
The Social Security Organization’s data is based solely on insured workers, which may partly explain the disparity. However, the scale of the difference points to deeper systemic issues—specifically, gaps in oversight and a failure to comprehensively document and prevent workplace hazards.
C] Mounting Reports
Beyond fatal accidents, Iran is witnessing a surge in occupational diseases, particularly among workers in high-risk sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and services. Recent media reports highlight the declining safety standards across the country’s workplaces. These concerns are supported by findings from the Iranian Parliament’s Research Center.
A 2023 report titled “Investigation of Work-Related Accidents and the Social Rights of Mine Workers” stated that 3,826 insured workers died at their workplaces in 2021 and 2022, positioning workplace accidents alongside road crashes as leading causes of death in Iran.
According to the same report, 84,638 workers were injured in the two-year period, though only deaths among those with official insurance were documented, pointing again to a broader safety crisis that is likely underreported.
D] Official Numbers Not Complete
In a separate report released by the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in May 2024, the government acknowledged 10,000 work-related accidents annually, with approximately 800 resulting in death. Construction and manufacturing industries alone accounted for 74 percent of these incidents.
Despite these statistics, experts argue that non-compliance with safety standards remains the primary cause of workplace accidents and illnesses. Common contributing factors include:
- Lack of effective safety training for workers and employers;
- Outdated or non-standard equipment;
- Long working hours and excessive workloads;
- Hazardous work environments;
- Exposure to toxic substances;
- Psychological stress, job insecurity, and social pressure.
These conditions not only increase the risk of accidents but also contribute to the development of chronic physical and mental illnesses among workers. In sectors like construction and services, ailments such as herniated discs, worn cartilage, torn ligaments, and chronic joint pain are widespread.
E] Growing Public Health Concern
As healthcare costs rise and insurance coverage becomes increasingly limited, many workers avoid medical treatment and diagnostic tests, leading to worsening health outcomes over time. These untreated conditions affect quality of life during both working years and retirement, while also placing growing pressure on Iran’s already strained social welfare and insurance systems.
A comparative glance at global standards reveals that Iran lags significantly behind developed nations in occupational health and safety. This gap is not merely a matter of infrastructure but also of political will and labor rights.
F] “The Silent Death of Workers”
On April 19, 2024, the labor newspaper Kar va Karegar published a report titled “The Silent Death of Workers”, documenting the alarming rise in occupational diseases. Akbar Shawkat, head of the Construction Workers’ Association, stated: “According to global patterns, deaths from occupational diseases are five to seven times higher than those caused by sudden workplace accidents.”
He further estimated that if 2,000 workers die each year from workplace accidents, an additional 10,000 may die from long-term work-related illnesses—deaths that are largely invisible due to a lack of official reporting and oversight.
G] A Hidden Majority: Iran’s Informal Labor Force
The official statistics likely underestimate the true scale of the crisis, as they only include formally employed and insured workers. Labor activists estimate that about five million Iranians are employed without contracts or insurance, many in underground workshops where labor laws are routinely ignored. These workers are particularly vulnerable, and injuries or deaths among them often go unreported and uninvestigated.
More than 96 percent of Iran’s workforce is employed on temporary contracts, undermining job security and access to healthcare, while diminishing workers’ ability to organize and advocate for better conditions.
H] Structural Failures and Union Suppression
Experts point to the systematic suppression of independent labor unions by the Iranian government as a root cause of continued unsafe working conditions.
Without organized labor, workers lack the necessary tools to push for regulatory reforms or to hold employers and officials accountable. This silence enables the continuation of preventable workplace deaths and long-term illnesses.
I] A Looming Crisis
Iran’s failure to address workplace safety is not just a labor issue—it is a growing public health and economic crisis. In the first six months of 2024 alone, 1,077 deaths from occupational accidents were recorded, averaging nearly 200 deaths per month. Over the past five years, this marks a 30 percent increase, underlining a worsening trend.
As Iran grapples with an aging population, the long-term consequences of widespread occupational illness and injury will place an ever-greater burden on its social support systems, while weakening the health and productivity of its workforce.