Title: Landmark Pension Reform Aims to Balance Livelihoods and National Manpower Strategy
In a significant move, the Iranian government has unveiled comprehensive details of a proposed pension reform plan designed to increase retirees’ incomes while addressing broader structural goals within the national administrative system.
A Long-Awaited Adjustment
The centerpiece of this initiative is an amendment to Article 106 of the Country’s Management Services Law. According to Mr. Zabiḥollah Salmani, Deputy for Human Capital at the Administrative and Employment Organization, this amendment, presented after an 11-year interval, directly targets the “pension harmonization” of retirees. This policy is a cornerstone of the government’s agenda for the current year.
Dual Benefits: Supporting Retirees and Creating Opportunities
Officials emphasize that the reform serves a dual purpose. Primarily, it seeks to secure the livelihood of pensioners through a calculated increase in their benefits. A key secondary objective is to incentivize timely retirement. The government has identified a “reluctance to retire” among current employees, partly attributed to the income gap between active workers and pensioners.
By harmonizing pensions, the amendment aims to reduce this disparity, thereby encouraging smoother transitions into retirement. This, in turn, is projected to open up employment opportunities for the younger generation, aligning with the nation’s manpower development strategies.
Integration with Broader National Plans
Mr. Salmani further clarified that this initiative dovetails with the provisions of the Seventh National Development Plan. The plan already envisions a gradual harmonization of pensions to reach 90% of the income received by active employees. The proposed amendment to Article 106 is a concrete step towards fulfilling this legislative mandate.
The Deputy also outlined that the reform is a response to several structural challenges, including notable disparities between different beneficiary groups and imbalances within the pension fund.
Commitment to an Efficient Administration
The pension reform is part of a larger framework aimed at enhancing governmental efficiency. Mr. Salmani reiterated the administration’s commitment to a legally mandated 15% reduction in human resources and the implementation of “administrative urgency” programs. These programs are designed to streamline service delivery processes and improve oversight of the national administrative system’s performance.
In conclusion, Mr. Salmani expressed the expectation for full support from all media outlets and the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) to ensure the successful implementation of this pivotal pension harmonization plan.