Title: Government and Parliament Focus on Economic Reforms and Retiree Welfare in Budget Planning
In a significant national conference held in Arak, senior official Nadergholi Ebrahimi outlined key economic priorities and addressed systemic reforms, with a particular emphasis on the legal demands of the country’s retiree community.
National Priorities: Employment and Economic Mobilization
Speaking at the National Concord Conference for Domestic Investment, Ebrahimi underscored that preserving existing jobs and creating new employment opportunities are paramount national objectives. He stressed that these goals must be at the forefront of the country’s development programs.
Harnessing Financial Resources for Production
A central theme of Ebrahimi’s address was the need to effectively manage the nation’s financial resources. He pointed to the circulation of approximately $30 billion in foreign currency and over 2,500 billion Rials in domestic capital, stating, “With proper management and national coordination, this liquidity can be directed towards boosting production and economic growth.” He emphasized that both foreign exchange and Rial capital must be channeled into the productive sectors.
Call for Regulatory Overhaul and Efficient Support
Ebrahimi identified a comprehensive review of existing regulations as a critical need, noting that current laws are insufficient for addressing the realities faced by the workforce and production sectors today. He called for fundamental revisions. Furthermore, he highlighted necessary reforms in the processes of the Welfare Bank, stating that delays in allocations and registrations have created numerous problems for producers that must be resolved.
Retirees Present Formal Demands to Parliament
In a parallel development, retiree associations have submitted a formal statement to Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament, and the presiding board. The statement outlines their legal and livelihood demands as the legislature begins drafting the national budget for the upcoming Iranian year (1405).
The retirees’ appeal is structured around four key pillars:
- Implementation of Legal Statutes: The retirees insist on the full implementation of Articles 85 and 125 of the Civil Service Management Law. Article 85 pertains to the consolidation of health insurance for active and retired civil servants, which is crucial given rising medical costs. Article 125 mandates that annual salary increases for employees and retirees be based on the inflation rate, a measure seen as vital for preserving purchasing power.
- Reform of Year-End Bonuses: The statement calls for a revision in the payment of annual bonuses (“Eidi”), requesting that it be adjusted for inflation and set at a minimum of one month’s salary to help cover families’ essential needs.
- Equitable Pension Adjustments: Retirees have emphasized the need for the fair and non-discriminatory implementation of pension adjustments, as stipulated in the Seventh Development Plan. They point to observable disparities between different pension funds and government bodies and have called for effective parliamentary oversight to ensure justice in pension payments.
- Realization of Social Justice: The overarching demand is for the realization of social justice in all economic and welfare policies affecting retirees.
The statement, which opens with the Quranic verse “Indeed, Allah commands justice and good conduct,” concludes with a call for the Parliament to strengthen its supervisory role during the budget approval process. Retirees expect that the necessary credits for the full implementation of these laws will be allocated, expressing hope that their legitimate demands will be seriously addressed by both the government and the legislature.