Title: Government Announces New Special Allowance for Employees Amid Administrative Reform Efforts
In a significant development for Iran’s public sector, the State Management and Planning Organization has issued a detailed directive concerning a new “Special Allowance” for all government employees. This move is part of broader administrative reforms outlined in the nation’s Seventh Development Plan.
Allowance Details and Payment
The organization has confirmed that the special allowance for government employees has been precisely calculated and its payment process has been officially initiated. This financial benefit applies to all official and contractual employee groups, with transparent instructions issued to every individual on how to receive it.
To ensure timely receipt, all government staff are urged to update their personal documents and information. The payment of this allowance is scheduled to be disbursed concurrently with employees’ regular monthly salaries.
Administrative Reform and Workforce Objectives
The announcement comes amidst ongoing efforts to implement the Seventh Development Plan. The head of the State Management and Planning Organization, Aladdin Rafiezadeh, recently addressed the parliament, providing a comprehensive update on the plan’s progress. A key focus has been the ambitious goal of reducing the human resources in executive bodies by 15%.
However, Rafiezadeh clarified that achieving this specific reduction target is practically unfeasible due to conflicting mandates within the same law. While one article mandates a workforce reduction, approximately 38 other decrees necessitate the expansion of structures and an increase in personnel in critical sectors like education and emergency medical services.
Progress on Key Indicators
Despite the challenge with the workforce reduction target, the organization reported significant success in other key reform areas:
- Work Method Design and Reform: 100% achieved.
- Reduction of Government Buildings: The process of organizing and identifying key buildings has commenced.
- Devolution of Authority to Provincial Units: 775 tasks and authorities have been successfully delegated.
- E-Government: 96.7% of executive bodies are now connected to the unified government service window.
Financial Considerations and Parliamentary Cooperation
The implementation of the special allowance, while a key directive, carries a substantial financial burden. The organization estimates that fully executing this directive would require significant funding, which is currently unallocated. Therefore, its full rollout is contingent upon budget approval.
Rafiezadeh also emphasized the critical need for parliamentary support to eliminate parallel and redundant government structures, a long-standing objective in previous development plans that has yet to be fully operationalized. He stressed that reforming the administrative system and optimizing the distribution of human resources—rather than simply reducing numbers—are the primary focuses. The current issue is not an overall surplus of staff but an imbalance in distribution, with shortages at operational levels and surpluses in central headquarters.
Key Takeaways for Employees and Decision-Makers
This official announcement underscores several critical points:
- The 15% workforce reduction target is not operational under the current legal framework.
- The administrative body’s focus is on systemic reform and optimal personnel distribution.
- Eliminating parallel organizations to reduce budgetary costs remains a top priority.
- The payment of the special allowance is subject to budget allocation.
- Employees and managers must stay informed of new guidelines to fully benefit from their entitlements.
The directive highlights the complex challenges of implementing the Seventh Development Plan in the human resources sector, indicating that successful reform will require continued collaboration between the parliament, the government, and all executive bodies.