The Supreme Leader's Meeting with Workers and Teachers on International Workers' Day and the Anniversary of Martyr Motahhari's Death

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I welcome all the brothers and sisters who have kindly come and congratulate the esteemed teachers and workers on the noble Teacher's Day and the noble Workers' Day. I also honor the memory of the great martyr and pioneering teacher in this field - the late Ayatollah Martyr Motahhari - who has a great right over our nation and revolution.

Regarding these two important communities - the workers' community and the teachers' community - many rightful and appropriate words have been said. There is no doubt that these two groups are among the most influential segments of society in the present and future of the country. Teachers are the builders of humanity; noble humans, progressive humans, educated humans. In fact, it is these teachers who shape the primary material of the world of creation, which is the essential and central condition for all advancements and elevations - both material and spiritual. If the community of teachers in a country is honored and cherished, it is not merely honoring a number of people; it is honoring knowledge, elevation, and progress; it is honoring humanity. The fact that teachers are celebrated in the country is not mere rhetoric or flattery. The meaning of these words is that the general atmosphere of the country should recognize the value of knowledge, education, and becoming a learned person. These words are meant to honor the classroom, the teacher, and the creator of knowledge and lessons. A nation that does not value knowledge, education, and the importance of culture is vulnerable, no matter how much material growth it achieves; it is susceptible to downfall and defeat.

Honoring workers is also for two reasons: one is that every country, no matter how much material growth and wealth it has, owes it to the labor of workers. It is the worker who produces wealth and creates economic growth. If there are no workers, all the planners, designers, and economic thinkers will find their work futile. The element and factor that realizes all thoughts, goals, plans, and advancements of economic science in practice is the worker's hand. Therefore, the worker has a great right over all members of the nation; because it is the product of their labor that organizes the daily lives of people in a practical and effective manner.

The second reason we honor workers is that honoring workers is honoring work; work is very important. How much unemployment harms humanity; whether unemployment is due to laziness and lack of effort on the part of the individual, or because they are unable to work due to a lack of jobs. Thus, work is a value and a true act of worship. The real and actual factor for the advancement of a country is work. Therefore, we honor workers so that work is honored.

Teachers and workers are two very important groups. Not that other groups are not important; indeed, every collection has its own creators, generators, and constituents, and all are important in their own right; however, attention to these two groups prevents a great and damaging negligence from engulfing the country and the people. Who should pay attention? First and foremost, the responsible authorities, and secondly, all members of the public. They should recognize the value of teachers, the value of workers; these are values. Teachers and workers are individuals who spend their lives on work that is esteemed and cherished before God Almighty.

If we look at the twenty-two-year history of the revolution and also the last years before the revolution - especially the last year - we see that the role of these two groups in the emergence of the revolution and in continuing the path of the revolution and its victories has been decisive. If there were no teachers, all these students and all these youths would not have participated in the fronts and in the scenes of the revolution and in the related construction works; it was the teachers who motivated the children. In this regard, some teachers made real sacrifices and became role models for their students.

Likewise, workers, both before the revolution and after the victory of the revolution, during the imposed war and in various fields, proved themselves. They showed up on the scene and contributed, preventing factories from shutting down, so that we could traverse this difficult and winding path of twenty-two years and reach this point. Therefore, both groups have passed a good test.

One of the important tasks of both groups was to fight against those who wanted to either close schools and classes or lead factories and workshops to closure. Certainly, some of you know that there was much effort made to confront the Islamic Republic with workers' strikes. Who stood against these? The workers themselves. They wanted to close schools; who stood against them? The teachers themselves. These actions have great reward and value before God. Today is no different. Today, one can hear whispers that, regarding a certain issue, a certain law, or a certain pretext, some are trying, or some organized centers are attempting, to paralyze the working body of the country! Do you know what will happen to the country? That is what they want. They do not pursue workers' rights. Their effort is to halt this difficult path that the government and the authorities are currently on, who are sweating and striving, relying on God in the face of all these accumulated conspiracies - economic blockades, the malice of global arrogance, sabotage, and obstruction. How? By preventing work from remaining in the country and separating the working body from work so that it becomes paralyzed. If there is no economic prosperity in society, if there is no production of work and wealth, among those who will suffer the most will again be the same underprivileged and deprived groups, especially the working classes. The enemy wants this.

Today, some naively try to close their eyes and not see the enemy. However, the reality is that the enemy is at work and wants to stop the movement of the Islamic Republic by any means possible; through propaganda, political uproar, noise, and claims of support for this group or that group. Their aim is to paralyze work in the Islamic Republic and prevent any progress. Today, the government and the authorities are striving. Today, the issue of employment is one of the most important issues in our country. Authorities must create several hundred thousand job opportunities each year to engage the youth who are ready and eager to enter the job market. Creating jobs is not easy; it requires planning, effort, and peace of mind. Some want to prevent these tasks from being accomplished. Who are these people? The enemies and their instigators. They target the groups that are experiencing disarray. Of course, until today, the ill-intentioned enemies have not been able to dominate our cultural and working society and turn them into tools. They should know that certainly after this, they will not be able to either; but the main condition is vigilance. Everyone must be vigilant. Youth, teachers, workers, students, and university students must be awake and know what the enemy is after. The government and various authorities must also do their part. There are programs; God willing, these programs will be implemented and progress will be made, and gradually the disarray will be resolved.

I also want to say a word to some of the authorities. Today, our country is passing through a difficult economic period, so that, God willing, it can reach a period that is open, free, good, and prosperous, where people can benefit from the gifts and blessings of this great nature and the abundant resources that exist in our country. We need everyone's efforts; however, one of the afflictions that is currently affecting the movement of general growth and development in the country is that due to poor policies, the gap between classes increases. This must be watched very carefully. Some only think of themselves. These are people who think of neither the oppressed and underprivileged class, nor the poor, nor the future of the country, and only think of their own pockets, their personal lives, and accumulating as much wealth as possible. The responsible agencies must not allow these individuals to continually widen the gaps and distances. Social justice is fundamental. If there is economic prosperity in the country, but there is no social justice, this economic prosperity will not benefit the poor and underprivileged and will not eliminate deprivation; just as you see today in many countries where production is high, large factories are busy, and wealth is being produced; yet deprivation exists in those countries; including these advanced European and Western countries. What they show us on television and behind the cameras are the good places. They do not show the impoverished neighborhoods, the bitter lives, the hunger, the deprivations, and the regrets! They show the magnificent buildings and beautiful streets and large gardens! If there is industrial advancement and economic prosperity, but there is no social justice, it leads to this situation and the situation of some countries that are even worse. We do not want that. We do not want just economic prosperity in society. We want economic prosperity accompanied by social justice. Of course, we do not say that there should be social justice without economic prosperity; because in a place where there is no economic prosperity, social justice is not that significant, and at the same time, society will not reach the necessary welfare and enjoyment. If social justice is accompanied by economic advancement, society will flourish. We cannot disregard social justice.

The authorities are in charge of affairs. On one hand, they must allow those who are working through proper channels to engage in healthy and legal economic efforts - because producing wealth in Islam is not condemned - but they must prevent the use of illegal methods, deception, trickery, and the misuse of public wealth. These are prohibited. The gaps must be reduced. Some of these rights, bonuses, and payments that some individuals receive - which come from public funds - are not justifiable or understandable. Those who use state assets and public funds should receive benefits commensurate with their rights and the value of their work. It cannot be that some individuals have excessive benefits. Of course, the Islamic Revolution broke this idol of discrimination and tyranny in this country. Before the revolution, the gap between the poor and the rich was considered an unavoidable matter. No one dared to say, "You have an eyebrow above your eye." The Islamic Revolution came and opened the path of social justice and paved the way. But we must act. Those who legislate, those who decide, and those who plan must consider social justice. A few days ago, the Islamic Republic's television showed a school in one of the villages of Bushehr, and seeing that situation broke my heart! A number of young people in a corner of this country go to high school under such difficult conditions; while a few kilometers away in the middle of the sea, you can see what is being done with windfall wealth! In the Islamic Republic system, this method is not correct; it is wrong. Authorities must be vigilant. Everyone has a duty and must perform their duty accurately. Authorities must pursue justice and strive to make life easier for the underprivileged and deprived classes. I mean those who saved this country in times of danger, and if God forbid, another danger threatens this country, it will again be the same working community, the same teachers, the same underprivileged classes, and the same employees who are at lower income levels who will defend and stand firm.

All various segments of the people - whether workers, teachers, administrative employees, or employees in various sectors - should strive, God willing, with vigilance and precision, to perform their work in the best possible way; authorities should also understand their responsibilities. God willing, this society will reach the place that is its right; the place that God has determined for it; that is, God willing, the peak of salvation; both worldly and material, and also spiritual and divine.

We hope that God will make us aware of our duties; help us in fulfilling those duties; hold our hands and keep us from deviation and misguidance. We hope that the favors of the Master of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him, will be directed towards you, and God willing, the support and prayers of that great one will encompass all of you and us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.