Title: Major Reform for Contract Workers: Government Nears Final Decision on Landmark Employment Plan
In a significant move to reshape the nation’s public sector workforce, a high-level government committee is finalizing a comprehensive plan aimed at regularizing the status of hundreds of thousands of contract and corporate personnel within state-run bodies.
A Push for Employment Justice
The “Contract Workforce Organization Plan,” a key administrative priority, is designed to establish hiring equity and eliminate intermediary agencies that currently stand between many employees and the government. According to Rafiezadeh, the Vice President and Head of the State Administrative and Recruitment Organization, the plan is currently undergoing meticulous review by a specialized committee with representatives from various executive bodies.
“The subject of organizing corporate forces is on the agenda of a committee comprising relevant agencies,” Rafiezadeh stated, emphasizing that the plan’s provisions are being revised in detail. Having previously reached a final stage, the proposal was returned to the specialized committee for further clarification on certain clauses to ensure its robustness and clarity.
Addressing Long-Standing Inequities
The core objective of this initiative is to resolve the ambiguous employment status of contract and corporate workers in ministries, organizations, and state-owned companies. A significant portion of the workforce in these entities is currently employed through third-party companies, depriving them of the full benefits and job security enjoyed by direct-hire and formal employees. This has been a source of dissatisfaction and perceived inequity in compensation.
The government intends to systematically integrate long-serving personnel into either formal or direct contractual frameworks based on clear criteria. This move is expected to directly enhance job security and ensure fair pay, thereby fostering greater trust in the national employment structure.
Streamlining Efficiency and Cutting Costs
Beyond improving individual worker conditions, the plan is projected to play a major role in reducing unnecessary expenditures associated with intermediary contracting firms. By implementing the reform, a substantial portion of financial resources previously allocated to outsourcing contracts will be channeled directly to the employees, increasing efficiency and optimizing public spending.
The government has underscored its commitment to a gradual and precise implementation to prevent any disruption to the functioning of vital state apparatuses. This process requires close coordination between several key institutions, including the Plan and Budget Organization, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, and the State Administrative and Recruitment Organization.
A Deliberate Path Forward
The plan’s return to the specialized committee highlights the administration’s careful, detail-oriented approach. The review focuses on intricate details regarding the inclusion criteria for personnel, contract types, and the plan’s budgetary impacts.
“After the final compilation and amendments,” Rafiezadeh confirmed, “the plan will be presented to the Council of Ministers for a decision.”
A Landmark in Employment Policy
With the final review underway, it is anticipated that the plan could be presented to the government cabinet in the coming months. Its approval is poised to mark a pivotal moment in the country’s public employment policy. Following ratification, tailored executive by-laws are expected to be prepared for each government body, initiating the phased process of integrating eligible contract workers.
This reform, a long-standing demand from a significant segment of the workforce, is seen as a crucial step toward strengthening administrative justice and boosting public confidence in the state’s institutional framework.