In response to the Haft-Tappeh protests, the minister of jobs announced his dissatisfaction with how the issue was handled and tweeted that “It was reported that the workers’ wages for one month have just been paid.”

Mohammad Shariatmadari, in his tweet on Thursday, criticized the process of privatization for the company and said: “Right or wrong, years ago the privatization of a massive unit happened. Bad maintenance at the harvest time increases the disorder, while the country can be managed with good judgment. It was reported that the worker’s wages for one month have just been paid.”

The workers of the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane company have been protesting for over two weeks now. They have not been paid in four months. Several workers have been arrested.

The governor of Khuzestan said they are trying to get most of the arrested workers released.

Today there were reports of continued protests by Haft-Tappeh workers for the 18th day.