Landmark Agreement Reached: Direct Government Contracts for Contractual Employees to Begin This Month
In a significant political development, the Iranian government and parliament have reached a consensus on a long-debated plan to reorganize the state’s contractual workforce. This agreement, finalized on Tuesday, marks a pivotal step towards resolving years of employment instability for thousands.
A New Direct-Hiring Framework
Announced by Ali Babaie Karnami, Head of the Parliament’s Social Commission, the comprehensive plan eliminates intermediary contracting companies entirely. Instead, employees will be hired directly by the government bodies they serve, a move designed to streamline administration and enhance job security.
The new structure categorizes employees based on their educational background:
- Employees with a high school diploma or higher will be offered fixed-term employment contracts.
- Employees with lower educational qualifications will be hired under Article 124 of the Civil Service Management Law and in accordance with the Labor Law.
Babaie Karnami emphasized that alternative scenarios, including the continuation of intermediary companies, were rejected due to their inefficiency and failure to meet the needs of the workforce. This decision underscores the serious resolve of both the legislative and executive branches to address this persistent issue at its core.
Separate Proposal on Work Hours Returned for Review
In a related parliamentary session, the fate of a separate bill proposing a reduced work week—including the closure of offices on Thursdays—was also determined. After considerable debate, lawmakers voted to return the bill to the Social Commission for further scrutiny. The decision was based on concerns over potential ambiguities within the legislation and the risk of imposing an additional financial burden on the state budget. Therefore, the proposal for a shorter work week remains uncertain and awaits future deliberation.
