Title: Iranian Retirees File Formal Demands, Citing Economic Pressures and Legal Rights
In a formal statement delivered to media outlets, retirees from Iran’s Social Security Organization have outlined five key demands, highlighting the critical role of the social safety net in ensuring the livelihood security of millions of households. The retirees state that their economic welfare has reached a critical point due to intense inflation and insufficient pension adjustments.
The Core Economic Challenge
The statement begins by citing official statistics, noting an annual inflation rate of approximately 40 percent. It underscores that pension increases have not kept pace with the rising cost of living, leading to a severe decline in purchasing power and significant financial pressure on retirees.
Referencing a cumulative inflation rate of over 230 percent in the past four years, the retirees state that pension adjustments have not reflected the real inflation rate. Consequently, many face serious difficulties in meeting basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare.
Five Key Demands Presented
The retirees’ statement presents five urgent demands directed at the government and relevant institutions:
- The immediate approval and implementation of a plan to repair retirees’ livelihoods in the second half of the current Iranian year (1404), through the cooperation of the government, parliament, and the Social Security Organization management.
- The full implementation of Article 96 of the Social Security Law, which mandates the annual adjustment of pensions based on the real inflation rate and household living costs.
- Enhanced coordination between the government, parliament, and the Social Security Organization to allocate financial resources and implement supportive decisions in a timely manner.
- Transparent action by the Managing Director of the Social Security Organization to realize the legal rights of retirees and strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare.
- An active and effective role for the High Council of Retirees in defending the professional rights of its members and providing transparent reporting to the retiree community.
Emphasis on Legal Rights and Social Justice
The statement emphasizes that their demands are “in accordance with the law and based on social justice.” It notes that retirees, through their years of service and regular payment of insurance premiums, played a significant role in the nation’s economic development. Therefore, they expect the government and the Social Security Organization to duly respect their legal and human rights.
The document further states: “We retirees expect the Honourable Minister of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare and the Honourable Managing Director of the Social Security Organization to implement wage justice and preserve the dignity of retirees in their managerial positions. The accompaniment and decisive action of the government and parliament to compensate for the loss of purchasing power is an undeniable necessity.”
A Call for Timely Action
The statement also warns that “delay in decision-making and rectifying the pension situation will lead to increased class disparity and social dissatisfaction.” Retirees have called on the Social Security Organization to ensure sufficient resources for fair and timely pension payments in its financial planning and to report on the fund’s financial status with complete transparency.
In conclusion, the retirees have requested that the High Council of Retirees adopt a more proactive approach, diligently follow up on negotiations, and accurately inform retirees of the outcomes. They believe that transparency and synergy among professional bodies can facilitate the process of realizing their legal entitlements.
The statement summarizes the retirees’ position as a call for immediate action to adjust pensions—a request framed as a matter of justice, law, and the preservation of human dignity. It expresses the expectation that the government, parliament, and the Social Security Organization will make the necessary decisions promptly, with a proper understanding of the difficult economic conditions.