Rewritten Title: Iranian Pensioners Advocate for Economic Justice, Present Key Demands to Government
Article:
A significant dialogue is underway in Iran regarding the economic welfare of the nation’s retirees. While annual pension adjustments are typically implemented at the start of the Iranian year, a coalition of pensioners and beneficiaries from the Social Security Organization has initiated a new campaign. Their goal is to urge the government and the parliament to take immediate action to improve their living conditions in the second half of the current year.
The Core of the Concern
The central issue, as outlined by the pensioners’ groups, is the growing disparity between their monthly pensions and the country’s inflation rate. Citing official statistics, they highlight that the current inflation rate, reported to be around 40 percent, is not matched by corresponding increases in their benefits. They further state that cumulative inflation over the past four years has surpassed 230 percent, leading to severe difficulties in covering essential costs such as food, housing, and healthcare.
A Call for Legislative Fulfillment
A primary demand of the campaign is the full implementation of Article 96 of the Social Security Law. This legislation mandates the annual adjustment of pensions based on the inflation rate and rising living costs. The retirees are also calling for greater transparency from Social Security managers and enhanced coordination among relevant state institutions to address their grievances effectively.
Seven Key Demands Presented
In a recent, widely reported meeting, representatives of the pensioners presented a list of seven essential demands to the President’s Executive Deputy. These demands underscore a systemic approach to resolving their long-standing issues:
- Full pension adjustment in accordance with the Seventh Development Plan.
- An increase in next year’s pensions based directly on the official inflation rate.
- An immediate 20 percent pension increase for the second half of the current year.
- Improvement of basic and supplementary insurance coverage and approval of relevant executive bylaws.
- The allocation and secure funding for the payment of all outstanding pensioner claims.
- Implementation of legal provisions for retirees in operational border regions.
- The allocation of employment quotas for the children of retirees.
Government Pledges Action
The President’s Executive Deputy acknowledged the importance of addressing the economic challenges faced by retirees. He assured the representatives that their demands would be seriously examined and followed up, confirming that regular cabinet meetings would be held to work on the relevant approvals.
A Sustained National Effort
This campaign, which has already garnered the support of hundreds of retirees, is set to continue its advocacy. The activists have declared their unwavering commitment to seeing their demands realized, framing support for the retired community as a national necessity. This meeting is regarded as one of the most significant engagements on pensioners’ rights this year, receiving extensive coverage in local and national media.