Women’s status in the Black Market of IRAN 

What has been happening for women in the Black Market of IRAN during COVID-19? (part2)

Although in the previous article we examined the situation of women peddlers in the subway, this does not mean that women peddlers work only in the subway. Every day we see thousands of women vendors across the country selling different products on the streets. In the last year and the critical situation of the Coronavirus in Iran, not only the number of women peddlers has not decreased but it is increasing day by day and there is not even any support and organization from the government.

Why Street Peddler has been increasing in IRAN? 

Iran’s Black Market

Due to the economic sanctions and the high unemployment rate, it is obvious that the low-income deciles of the society face major economic problems for the livelihood of the family, while the government does not have the proper capacity to create stable jobs and generate adequate peripheral income. It can be expected that peddling will be eradicated.

There are no official statistics on women traffickers in Iran, but the number of these women in the city is increasing every day and their problems are increasing every day too. These women also suffer from many problems, including lack of security and a suitable place to present their goods, harsh treatment, and insults by municipal officials.

They fill their empty hands with packages of toothbrushes, socks, chewing gum, nail clippers, and any goods that their customers need daily, and enter the community.

The peddlers are alien to insurance, salaries, holidays, and benefits; The definition of their job is the hands that are filled with small goods and the legs that drag them from alley to alley to earn halal money.

During the pandemic:

Iran’s Black Market

In the winter, despite fears of Covid-19 disease and the reddest days in the city, vendors expose their goods in the streets for sale. This adds to the crowds and increases the fear of the spread of the coronavirus among vendors and citizens. When asked why they all cite the dire financial need in difficult economic times. They said that the hungry stomach does not recognize the Coronavirus.

 However, the sale of all kinds of goods in different parts of the city, especially in Tehran, regardless of the risk of the coronavirus and night closures on the streets is wide; A story that has long been the life story of some citizens and is still an unresolved issue.

Female Heads of Household:

Female Heads of Household

 According to official statistics, the highest national rate of female-headed households is in Khuzestan province. Currently, there are more than 33,000 women heads of households in Khuzestan. In order to be able to use welfare services and be members of this organization, have been given conditions that the salary of the Ministry of Labor, must be less than 40% of their salary to be able to Get welfare services, and these services will be cut off after they are empowered and will be given to another head of household. But among them, there are many women that despite the existence of these problems, work hard and manage in the best possible way.

What did the representative of the nation say about these women?

Female Heads of Household

Fatemeh Zolghadr- a representative of the people of Tehran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly and vice-president of the women’s faction, said: the phenomenon of female trafficking due to the economic situation in IRAN is growing.

Informal employment index is an issue that due to lack of transparency, accurate statistics and information are not available and information about it is an estimate of formal employment. Moreover, she said: Social We see a significant proportion of these women in informal occupations, mostly services. Young women and girls who are forced to work as street vendors, especially in the subway, and have created informal employment in recent years, whose collection plan was neither appropriate to organize nor their work in a public place is legal.

It should be borne in mind that young women and girls peddlers have turned to these jobs not out of desire but out of desperation, she said.

What are the solutions?

Iran’s black market

There are various strategies to prevent and reduce trafficking in women in the community, one of which is prevention; This means that these people will be supported and assisted by the government until they can acquire certain skills so that they can provide for their living basics such as food, housing, and so on.

Another way to reduce the number of peddlers is through subsidies paid at various levels. For example, the government can grant exemptions to factories, firms, etc. in various aspects, provided that they hire trained personnel who have acquired the necessary skills; Through this way, the governments could change the peddlers to formal labour and also decrease the number of peddlers.

Therefore, the solution to prevent women peddlers should be accompanied by rehabilitation; That is, the women should be recruited from the community level to be supported by the government for a while so that they can receive skills at this time and then be employed in various companies to reduce this phenomenon. (source)

Women’s status in the Black Market of Iran during Covid-19 (part 1)

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