A state source shed light on the deteriorating status of the work force and social situation for women in Iran.
“Currently a large number of educated people from the country’s most credible universities have joined the growing population of waiting tables and working as janitors,” he said.
Abdullah Vatankhah, a member of labor unions, describes the situation as such: “Right now people with bachelor’s degrees are willing to wait tables and work as janitors in various organizations and companies.”
“Despite the fact that in city services and greens the duties of men and women have been complimentary of each other, new gender segregation plans have led to many challenges for many people in this regard, and many have lost their jobs,” said Issa Rostami, another regime official.
“There was a time when bank employees only had high-school education and their diploma degree was the bank director. These days, however, diploma graduates are forced to work as janitors,” said economy expert Zahra Karimi.
“Matters get worse as ladies are used in Iran’s job market as the vitrine of various companies, and they are used more as tools and in jobs such as secretaries,” she added.
Rahmatollah Pourmousa, Secretary-General of Supreme Labor Council, sheds light on forged documents used by employers in Iran’s job market, and how these measures are used against workers’ interests.
“Some time ago I came across a file in which a mid-aged woman was expelled from work after 13 years of experience, without receiving her monthly paycheck, New Year’s bonus or a retribution, and through all these years the employee had this individuals’ ID papers, knowing she didn’t have the necessary education, and taking advantage of this lady as a result by always deducting from her paycheck. In some cases employers have forged documents to force workers to return half of their paychecks,” he said.
Hossein Akbari, a member of the Workers Services Association says, “Currently ladies with bachelor’s degrees are working in solder workshops, and a graphic major is now a simple worker. Of course, there are many more like them and their numbers are increasing by the day. Furthermore, all these individuals prefer to not mention their degrees in order to get hired by a certain organization or workshop.”

(State-run Asr-e Iran daily – September 23, 2015)