On my first trip to Asaluyeh, what I encountered went beyond the images I had seen in previous reports. The suffocating heat, intense humidity, and massive industrial structures were impressive, but they were not the most striking aspect of the journey. What stayed most vividly in my mind was the sincerity and dignity of the men who, quietly and without complaint, carry the burden of one of the country’s toughest industrial jobs.

As a journalist who has traveled numerous times to industrial areas around the country, Asaluyeh was a different and more human experience for me. Here, amid pipelines, the roar of turbines, and blazing flares, men stood with sweat-soaked clothes and hands stained with oil and dirt, yet smiling warmly and welcoming us with open faces.

In the heat that took your breath away and the humidity that made standing difficult, their brief laughter, their blackened but capable hands, and their proud eyes painted another image—a story of hardship mixed with love for their work. These men have not only endured the exhausting pressures of their jobs but have often kept silent in the face of inequality and neglect; a silence sometimes louder than any shout. But this time, these quiet and humble men agreed to speak with us. They spoke honestly and straightforwardly about their sufferings and hopes, hoping their voices would be heard and their problems eased.

“They said things would get better—and indeed they did—but...”

One veteran worker from the maintenance section, speaking calmly with seasoned perspective, recalls the early years of his work in Asaluyeh, years he describes as very tough: “The first years were really hard. Facilities were limited, the staff inexperienced, and the workload was very heavy. They said things would improve, and to be fair, they did. Infrastructure was upgraded, planning became more precise, and the workforce gained experience... but problems still remain. For example, sometimes safety equipment is not provided sufficiently, and we have to buy some ourselves. When this combines with our personal financial issues, it puts extra pressure on us. When your mind is occupied with living expenses and financial worries, naturally your focus at work drops, which directly affects safety and work quality.”

An experienced welding specialist involved in overhaul operations shares his reality: “During the overhaul season, we are always on high alert. We know the country depends on us, and any interruption in gas production, even for a few hours, has huge consequences. So, we work with all our strength, even under harsh weather conditions.” But “despite being fully aware of how important our work is, the reality is that our salaries and welfare conditions do not match the difficulty of our job. The heat, humidity, workload, high stress, and heavy responsibilities cannot be tolerated with minimal compensation.”

A local employee comments, “Even though we live in this area and work in a complex that plays a major role in supplying the country’s gas, we ourselves don’t even have gas at home. This is a bitter truth, but we still take pride in the work we do.” However, “along with this sense of responsibility, we expect at least some basic welfare facilities for ourselves and our families. Unfortunately, we still face many shortages in infrastructure, urban services, and public welfare.”

Sympathetic but limited in authority

Alongside workers’ concerns, managers, with a compassionate and realistic approach based on field experience, fully understand the existing issues and have made efforts within their authority to improve conditions. Alireza Hoquqi, head of operations at Refinery Nine, is one such manager closely familiar with workers’ realities. Pointing to challenges, especially motivational ones, he says: “One of the biggest challenges is the limitation on increasing salaries and benefits. When pay is not aligned with performance or working conditions, it is natural that employee motivation drops. Expecting high productivity in an environment lacking payment fairness is unrealistic—especially for operational staff who work under harsh climatic conditions and heavy responsibilities. Financial and welfare incentives play a key role in maintaining productivity.”

He also stresses that operational staff on the production front lines are under immense physical and psychological pressure, so boosting both internal and external motivation is crucial for sustaining production: “Employees working in the heat of Asaluyeh during overhaul seasons or emergency round-the-clock shifts should not worry about livelihood issues or salary inequalities. For production to remain stable, human capital must be prioritized.”

Despite legal limitations on payments, major efforts have been made to address these problems. Last year, thanks to the follow-ups of Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Oil, with high-level authorities, decisions were made to raise salary ceilings for operational workers in the oil industry. These decisions, after legal steps, were finalized and communicated. They enable increased salary ceilings in specific operational areas such as offshore platforms, islands, and remote oil and gas production and transmission facilities. This is an important step to partially compensate existing inequalities and strengthen the motivation of frontline workers. According to managers, these policies have helped alleviate some wage concerns and foster increased satisfaction and productivity, although the path to full justice is still incomplete. Managers emphasize that the livelihood and welfare of operational workers are not just a labor demand but a strategic issue vital to production sustainability and the country’s energy security.

Heydar Vardiani, safety officer at Refinery Nine, also emphasizes: “Frontline workers put their heart and soul into their work, especially during critical overhaul seasons, so their welfare must be a priority.”

A voice to be heard

South Pars is not just a collection of refineries, pipelines, and massive industrial equipment; it is the beating heart of Iran’s gas industry and a vital pillar of the country’s energy security. But what transforms these huge metal structures from lifeless constructions into the driving engine of the national economy is not only cutting-edge technology and complex designs, but the humble human force that silently bears the heavy load of national production—tough men standing firm amid heat, humidity, heavy workloads, and welfare deprivation.

This report is an effort to hear the voices of those men who work in silence but whose eyes reflect honesty and pride. Workers with calloused hands, sweat-soaked clothes, and tired yet sincere smiles endure inequalities. Technicians who, under the blazing sun and amid the loud noises of grinding, welding, and heavy machinery, maintain maximum focus to prevent accidents. Employees who stay awake at night to ensure the uninterrupted flow of the country’s gas supply.

They are the pillars on which this massive industry stands. Their demand, simple yet profound, is justice in pay, minimal improvement in welfare conditions, and recognition of their efforts. A manager who listens to and understands these demands not only guarantees production stability and the survival of the gas industry but also truly safeguards and values the industry’s most precious asset: its human capital.

South Pars is undoubtedly the showcase of Iran’s gas industry, but the shine of this showcase is not only achieved by production statistics, advanced equipment design, or flare displays. Behind these achievements stand people who, under the toughest possible conditions, protect the heart of the country’s energy. If their voices are not heard, if their sufferings are lost amid meetings and charts, a secure future for the nation’s gas industry cannot be guaranteed. Their voices must be heard—not merely out of sympathy or compassion, but out of justice, managerial understanding, and to preserve the future of the very industry on which Iran’s economic, social, and security life depends.

By Mojgan Faraji