Leader lauds labourers as backbone of economy & deterrence against enemy plots

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on last Sunday, April 30, on the threshold of Labour Day, granted audience to thousands of labourers and entrepreneurs.

He dwelt on the dignity of labour in Islam, in light of the teachings of the Prophet and the Infallible Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt, describing a labourer as a source of pride and stressing the need to provide “job security and livelihood” for the labour community. He added: The presence of workers and people from all walks of life on the scene has always deterred the enemies from aggression and war against the Iranian nation, and whoever respects the country, the system of government, and security, should participate in the upcoming elections because this decisive presence will protect the country from the evil of the enemy. Stay with us for details.

At the beginning of his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution felicitated the gathering and the nation on the auspicious birth anniversary of the Martyr of Karbala, Imam Husain (AS), the younger grandson and 3^rd Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). He said Iran and the Iranians regard devotion to Imam Husain (AS) and his ideals as the source of honour.

In accordance with the teachings of Islam, Ayatollah Khamenei hailed labourers as the “backbone of the economy and production,” saying: “For an advanced and independent economy and economic prosperity, great importance should be attached to the working class and if we want the labour community to enjoy decent privileges and wages, we should highlight and rely on ‘national production’.”

He said: “The issue of the country’s economy is not unsolvable and it is not a knot that cannot be untied and one of the important requirements for this settlement is respecting and recognizing the rights of labourers.”

He said the labour community should feel respected and dignified and in such a case there would be no fatigue, frustration, and apathy in [them for] carrying out their jobs.”

Ayatollah Khamenei, underscoring the “promotion of the culture of work and its importance. The essence of interest and enthusiasm in labour should be promoted in the society and labour should be so valuable that labourers would proudly declare being a laborer and feel no humiliation in doing so.”

He cited the “provision of job security” and the “provision of the livelihood of workers” as two important responsibilities of the officials, saying: “The administration, employers, workers and entrepreneurs are all responsible in their own turn for the settlement of the issues of the laborer community in this regard and must follow through with their duties.”

Ayatollah Khamenei pointing to the political and social roles of labourers in various countries and the enemy’s efforts to try to pit the labour community against the Islamic Republic from the very early days of the revolution, he said, “Despite these efforts, the labourers have always taken the side of the establishment and supported it and the religious and active labour community has, in fact, slapped the enemies in the face throughout these years.”

He added, “The Islamic Republic and all its officials should be thankful to and appreciative of the labour community, because it has always stood by and accompanied the establishment and with the grace of God such will also be the case henceforth.”

Highlighting the issue of employment, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution described it as a top priority, adding, “If the issue of employment is properly tackled, social maladies such as narcotics, the woes of the youth and the plights stemming from unemployment and idleness will also dramatically fall.”

He stressed: “Anyone taking charge of the executive affairs of the country and all of those assuming responsibility of the economic sectors in the next administration should from the very first day focus their efforts and struggles on the issue of job creation, because not even a day’s delay is permissible on this important issue.”  He cited attention to national production in all industrial, agricultural, public service, and other sectors as a prerequisite to the resolution of the issue of job creation, reiterating, “The officials in the next administration should take up this issue at the earliest opportunity through planning.”

In his speech, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution expressed satisfaction with the fact that the election atmosphere is heating up in the country, adding, “The beloved nation must know that turning out for the elections is decisive upon the issue of national security and if the people come to the ballot boxes, the country will continue to remain secure.”

Citing reliable intelligence, he said: The presence of the masses on the scene is the main reason for the insolent, shameless and bullying enemies from embarking on any untoward measure against Iran, because they are scared of the people’s presence on the scene in the true sense of the word. He added: God forbid, if a gap were to occur between the nation and the establishment, the enemies will be emboldened, like in other parts of the world.

Criticizing some elements who claim that their own policies has removed the shadow of war from the country, the Leader of the Revolution made it clear: “At times, we hear some saying or having said in the past that when we assumed office, we succeeded in lifting the shadow of war over the country, but such remarks are not correct and the truth is that in successive years, the presence of the people on the scene has been the reason for the removal of the shadow of war and aggression over Iran.”

He cited participation in the elections as the most important manifestation of this national presence, adding, “I will never recommend who to vote for or against, but I insist that you definitely go to the ballot boxes and vote for whoever you deem [qualified].”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution hailed the deep ties between the public and the establishment throughout all the hardship of the past 38 years, adding: “The progress, might, honour and dignity of the Islamic Republic in the region today are indebted to the accompaniment and harmony of the nation with the establishment.” He pointed to the necessity of deliberation, reflection and consultation in voting for candidates, adding, “Those who vote for candidates based on reason and cogitation, even if they have made a misjudgment, are excused before God, but if they make a choice haphazardly and carelessly, they have no excuses before God or even their own conscience.”

After outlining these important points for the people, Ayatollah Khamenei offered some advice to the six candidates. His first recommendation was that “they render their motivation God-oriented and to strive for serving the people, and not the pursuit of power, “because anyone who enters the arena for serving the people, particularly the poor classes, every word and act of his are prized and rewarded.” The second recommendation of the Leader to the presidential candidates was the explicit declaration of support for impoverished classes. He said: “Express your slogans and agendas such that everyone would know that you have entered the fray with the key aim of supporting the poor classes and that the resolution of this important problem is of serious priority for you. Make a pledge to God that if the people elect you, you will respect the priorities and pay more attention to the strata that need greater care.”

He said: “revolutionary and effortful undertaking” as the only way to settle the problems of the country. The people and the candidates should know that to solve the existing problems, one should be prepared and committed to serving like an indefatigable worker and to break the deadlocks and push the country forward with “high quality and extensive, industrious and revolutionary” labour.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution criticized those who term being revolutionary as synonymous with being disorderly, reiterating, “Order is one of the main principles of the true revolutionaries. Revolutionarism means refraining from indulging in ceremonial and marginal issues and flashy tasks, [it is] unending and indefatigable efforts to solve the problems of the people and untying the knots in production and job creation through shortcuts.”

Ayatollah Khamenei advised the officials of all the institutions involved in the elections, including the Interior Ministry, the Guardian Council and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting about the elections, saying, “The votes of the people are entrusted with you. Safeguard this entrusted item with utmost care and protection and do not allow anybody to tamper with it.”

He cited a close, indiscriminate, and unceremonious observation of the law as a prerequisite to an acceptable election that is approved by God Almighty and repeated his principal remark in the previous years, “The people’s vote is the right of the people and if anyone violates the right of the people, he will not be able to shoulder the consequences.”

AS/ME