Landmark Social Security Agreement Extends Coverage to Over 280,000 Educators
In a significant move to bolster social protections, a major cooperation agreement has been signed between Iran’s Social Security Organization and the Organization for Non-Governmental Schools and Centers & Development of Public Participation. This accord will provide comprehensive insurance coverage for more than 280,000 teachers and staff working in the nation’s non-governmental educational institutions.
Expanding Social Welfare Protections
The CEO of the Social Security Organization, Mr. Mostafa Salari, detailed the accord’s provisions. He emphasized that after extensive expert meetings, the executive mechanisms and components of the agreement were finalized. The primary objective is to develop social insurance coverage and ensure broader segments of society can benefit from the diverse services offered by the Social Security Organization.
“This agreement provides insurance coverage for over 280,000 teachers and educators employed in these schools,” Salari stated, highlighting the national effort to support the country’s workforce.
Key Features of the New Accord
The agreement encompasses a wide range of benefits and flexible arrangements designed specifically for educators:
- Healthcare and Founder Insurance: It includes provisions for medical services for teachers and insurance coverage for the founders of non-governmental educational centers.
- Dispute Resolution: A framework has been established for inspection and the review of insurance disputes, with representation from the Ministry of Education.
- Flexible Contribution Calculations: A joint working group will oversee the agreement’s implementation. Teachers will have the option to register and calculate premiums based on 30 hours of employment, either separately or collectively if working across multiple centers.
- Voluntary Top-Ups: To enhance retirement benefits, teachers covered under this agreement will have the option to complete their insurance payment periods voluntarily through remote, non-attendance channels.
- Educational Support: The Social Security Organization will also provide training on insurance-related matters for the teachers.
Salari stressed that this initiative is part of the organization’s twenty transformative plans, aiming to extend coverage while diligently managing financial resources and liabilities without relying on government funding or the resources of other insured persons.
Government and Parliamentary Support
The signing ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Education, who praised the Social Security Organization’s efforts. Minister Alireza Kazemi described the event as a “valuable, important, and effective measure in improving the conditions of non-governmental schools and centers.”
He noted that employees of these institutions constitute 30% of the Education Ministry’s staff and expressed hope that such agreements would increase the efficiency of these centers and provide hope for their employees’ future.
Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) also lauded the agreement. Mr. Ali Babaei Karnamei, Head of the Social Commission, commended the Social Security Organization’s management for protecting the organization’s financial resources without creating unfunded liabilities. He stated that the agreement would provide supportive insurance benefits for a significant segment of the country’s teachers while improving the quality of education.
Mr. Alireza Monadi Sefid, Head of the Education and Research Commission, confirmed that the agreement enables teachers to benefit from the protective coverage of the Social Security Organization.
The ceremony concluded with the formal exchange of the signed agreement between Mr. Mostafa Salari, CEO of the Social Security Organization, and Mr. Ahmad Mahmoudzadeh, Head of the Organization for Non-Governmental Schools and Centers & Development of Public Participation.