Title: Parliamentary Review Highlights Focus on Strengthening Iran’s Social Welfare System
Tehran – In a comprehensive review of the government’s annual performance, MP Ahmad Naderi outlined key social and welfare indicators before the Islamic Consultative Assembly, emphasizing the need for continued focus on social justice and targeted support for vulnerable groups.
Economic Performance and Employment Goals
During the open session on Tuesday, MP Naderi addressed the implementation of the country’s seventh development plan. He noted that while the plan’s objective was the creation of one million sustainable jobs per year, the actual figure achieved stood between 500,000 and 600,000. He highlighted this as an area requiring further attention to align goals with practical outcomes.
Insurance Coverage and Financial Sustainability
The discussion also covered social security insurance. Naderi reported that the growth rate of those covered by social insurance was less than two percent. Furthermore, he provided data on the financial sustainability of social funds, indicating an increased reliance on public budget resources, which he stated underscores the importance of efficient management.
Review of the Electronic Voucher Scheme
A significant portion of the review was dedicated to the electronic voucher initiative. Naderi reported that while the scheme was implemented with substantial funding, public satisfaction was measured at 45.2 percent. He stressed the parliament’s emphasis on the precise and transparent execution of this policy, which is designed to support household purchasing power and mitigate the effects of inflation on living expenses. He also mentioned that the full allocation of foreign exchange resources originally designated for the scheme had not been realized.
Pension System and Support for Vulnerable Groups
MP Naderi turned his focus to the welfare of retirees. He stated that the incomplete implementation of the pension harmonization plan and various payment processing issues had created dissatisfaction. He reiterated that the comprehensive social security policies, which are based on establishing a multi-layered welfare system, require full and effective execution.
He also called for special attention and a clear executive structure for persons with disabilities within the Welfare Ministry to facilitate empowerment and equal access to social services.
Skills Development and Data Systems
On the subject of workforce development, Naderi emphasized that the absence of transparent policies and cohesive planning risks missing the opportunity to train a skilled future generation. He affirmed that skill development should be a central pillar in completing the chain of sustainable employment.
He further pointed to the Iranian Welfare System, intended to be the main database for household information, as needing significant improvement in data maintenance and updating. He concluded that enhancing this system is crucial for improving the quality of resource allocation policies and support for vulnerable segments of society.
A Path Forward
In his concluding remarks, the MP underscored that the continued implementation of the seventh development plan in the social sector must maintain its focus on social justice, skill development, targeted support for weaker strata, and transparency in resource allocation. This, he affirmed, is essential for strengthening public trust and enhancing the efficacy of the government’s welfare policies.