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The Committee recalls its previous observations concerning the wage crisis that has been affecting a large number of enterprises, especially in the textile sector, as a result of globalization, low productivity, and insufficient private investment. The Committee has been in receipt of the report of the technical assistance mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran undertaken by the Office in April 2006. The three-day mission was scheduled as a follow-up to the discussion that took place in the Conference Committee of the Application of Standards in June 2005. The purpose of the technical assistance mission was to hold broad consultations with the tripartite constituents and reach a better understanding of the labour realities in the country including, but not limited to, the problem of wage arrears. The mission also addressed the question of the promotion of competitiveness and productivity in the textile industry with a view to considering the possibility of technical cooperation in this field.

Having duly examined the Office report, the Committee is satisfied that the numerous meetings with Government officials, public institutions and employers’ and workers’ organizations – held in a true spirit of openness and goodwill – have permitted a clear and objective appreciation of the nature, the scale and the causes of the wage difficulties experienced in certain sectors of the national economy. The Committee notes that, according to the Office report, even though irregularities in the payment of wages continue to occur, the problem is tackled rather satisfactorily by the Government and the judiciary, while there is no indication that payment in kind (barter) is offered in lieu of cash wages (paragraph 39). It also notes with interest the view expressed in the report that there is no evidence that the country is faced with a widespread wage crisis, or a non-payment of wages “culture”, either in terms of the number of workers affected or in terms of the average length of the delay in the payment of wages (paragraph 49). Apart from those positive findings, however, the report refers to the lack of reliable statistics as an indication of the poor monitoring of the wage situation on the part of the competent authorities. The Committee trusts that the Government will take due note of the conclusions of the technical assistance mission report and will avail itself of the Office’s advisory services in pursuing the current labour law reforms. The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to collect and communicate concrete figures regarding the total amount of any outstanding wage arrears, the approximate number of workers and enterprises concerned and the average delay in the payment of wages. The Committee requests the Government to provide full particulars on any measures aiming at improving the enforcement of the labour legislation as regards the regular payment of wages, for instance by strengthening the labour inspection system or providing for truly dissuasive sanctions.