Title: Government Engages with Retirees, Pledges Action on Key Demands Including Pay Raise
In a significant meeting focused on social welfare, representatives for Iran’s retiree community presented seven key demands to Dr. Qaempanah, the Vice President for Executive Affairs. The discussions centered on improving retirees’ living standards and ensuring their legal rights are fully realized, with the government official pledging thorough review and necessary planning to address the issues.
A Platform for Pensioner Concerns
The session served as a crucial channel for retiree representatives to directly convey their most pressing needs to a high-ranking government executive. The comprehensive list of demands underscores a concerted effort to safeguard the economic and social well-being of those who have served the nation.
Core Demands for Economic Justice
The presented requests were multifaceted, targeting systemic improvements:
- Pension Adjustment: A primary demand was the full implementation of pension harmonization, as per the country’s Seventh Development Plan. This legal provision aims to adjust pensions in line with inflation and the income levels of active employees, ensuring fairness in payments.
- Inflation-Linked Increases: Representatives called for next year’s pension increase to be directly based on the official inflation rate, a measure designed to protect retirees’ purchasing power and alleviate economic pressure on their families.
- Immediate 20% Raise: A proposed 20% pay raise for retirees in the second half of the current year was tabled. This initiative was highlighted as a necessary response to rising inflation and increased living costs, crucial for enhancing retirees’ livelihood conditions.
Systemic Reforms and Support Mechanisms
Beyond immediate financial adjustments, the talks addressed broader structural support:
- Healthcare Insurance Overhaul: Concerns were raised about the current state of basic and supplementary health insurance, particularly debts owed to the Mellat Insurance fund. Representatives requested the formulation of executive bylaws to improve the insurance mechanism within the government.
- Clearing Outstanding Dues: A call was made to secure sufficient financial resources to settle all overdue pension claims, a move that would significantly ease the economic hardships faced by this group.
- Support for Border Region Retirees: The implementation of a specific clause from the Sixth Development Plan was demanded to reinforce support for retirees who served in operational and border areas, ensuring justice for their contributions.
- Employment Quotas for Children: The final request was for the allocation of employment quotas for the children of retirees, aimed at expanding job opportunities for their families and mitigating economic challenges.
Government Assures Serious Consideration
Concluding the meeting, Dr. Qaempanah acknowledged the importance of addressing retirees’ issues. He gave assurances that all seven demands would be meticulously examined in cabinet meetings, with the necessary planning undertaken for their implementation. This meeting is seen as a pivotal step in the ongoing dialogue concerning pensioners’ rights and has been widely reported across the country. Activists in the field have stated that efforts to see these demands realized will continue until a final outcome is achieved.