Title: Landmark Civil Service Reform Finalized, Paving the Way for a More Efficient and Equitable Administration
In a significant move to overhaul its public sector, the Iranian government has finalized a comprehensive plan to reorganize its contractual workforce, marking a pivotal step towards administrative modernization and enhanced job security for millions of employees.
A New Chapter for Government Employees
The “Contractual Workforce Organization Plan,” a flagship initiative of the 13th government, is now in its final stages of review. The primary objectives are to eliminate intermediary contracting companies, establish direct employment relationships between staff and executive bodies, and significantly boost job security and employee productivity. This reform has garnered widespread support from both civil servants and members of parliament.
Addressing Long-Standing Challenges
For decades, a substantial portion of the public sector workforce has been employed through third-party contractors and intermediary companies. This system has often led to reduced job stability, financial discrepancies, and administrative complexities. The new plan directly confronts these issues by ensuring that all contractual and volume-based personnel will now sign contracts directly with the government agencies they serve.
A key feature is the direct payment of salaries and benefits from the state treasury, bypassing intermediaries and preventing unnecessary deductions. This is expected to immediately increase employees’ net income and satisfaction.
Three Pathways to Implementation
The Head of the State Management and Planning Organization, Aladdin Rafiezadeh, has outlined three distinct scenarios for implementing this ambitious reform:
- Submission of a Bill to Parliament: This approach would grant the plan full legal transparency and legitimacy, though it requires more time for parliamentary debate and approval.
- Utilizing Article 124 of the Labor Law: This method allows for a quicker, more executive-led process to reorganize and finalize employment contracts.
- Direct Payment from the Treasury: This scenario involves transferring salaries directly to employees with only a minimal 2-3% administrative deduction, thereby maximizing their take-home pay, though it is contingent on sufficient financial resources.
The final implementation method will be selected following thorough assessments by relevant government and parliamentary commissions.
Technological Backbone: The “PAKNA” System
To ensure transparency and effective management, the government has launched the “PAKNA” system—a centralized digital platform. All executive bodies are mandated to register and consistently update the information of their contractual staff within this system. While the data entry process is ongoing, PAKNA is poised to become the cornerstone for monitoring the national workforce and ensuring the reform’s accountability.
Widespread Political and Legislative Support
The reform plan has received strong backing from the legislature. Numerous letters from employees have been sent to the Speaker of Parliament, urging the plan’s swift execution. Ali Babaei Karnami, Head of the Parliament’s Social Commission, confirmed that extensive coordination with the State Management and Planning Organization is underway, with the expectation that the status of the contractual workforce will be finalized by the end of the current Iranian calendar period.
Expected Benefits and Future Outlook
The successful implementation of the Contractual Workforce Organization Plan is anticipated to yield substantial benefits, including:
- A significant increase in employees’ job security and morale.
- The elimination of costly and inefficient intermediary contractors.
- A more harmonized and equitable system for salaries and benefits.
- Enhanced administrative productivity and a reduction in bureaucratic red tape.
- Greater transparency in appointments and hiring processes.
This landmark reform is positioned as a cornerstone of the administration’s policy to build a more streamlined, just, and effective public sector. By securing the livelihoods of its workforce and modernizing its administrative structure, the government aims to foster a more stable and productive environment for national development.