Iran Launches Comprehensive Digital Platform to Enhance Retiree Welfare and Economic Empowerment
In a significant move to bolster the economic resilience and social welfare of its retirees, Iran’s Civil Servants Retirement Organization (CSRO) has unveiled a major new support initiative. The program centers on the launch of a sophisticated digital platform designed to connect millions of pensioners with a vast network of goods and service providers.
A New Marketplace for Pensioners
The platform was officially introduced in a ceremony attended by senior officials. Hojjat Mirzaei, the Managing Director of the CSRO, expressed great satisfaction with the project’s realization, stating, “The creation of this platform establishes an extensive virtual marketplace for retirees. On one hand, it connects millions of retiree households to tens of thousands of suppliers of goods and services. On the other, it provides the possibility for installment purchases with low interest rates and easy conditions.”
Mirzaei emphasized that the most critical feature of this scheme is its reliance on the financial and social credibility of retirees with the Fund. This credibility is treated as a valuable asset, eliminating the need for any type of guarantor or collateral for purchasing goods and services.
Strategic Economic Benefits
This initiative is framed not only as a direct support measure but also as a tool for broader economic stability. Mirzaei added, “This action not only increases the purchasing power of retirees but can also act as an instrument for microfinancing and mitigating the damages of inflation. We hope that with proper information dissemination through media and social networks, all retirees will benefit from this valuable opportunity.”
The CEO of Rightel, a partner in the project, highlighted his company’s role in developing smart services within the subsidiaries of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare. He noted that launching this comprehensive welfare services platform is a step towards smartening services, with efforts focused on providing a variety of goods through easy methods, suitable prices, and high diversity for retirees.
Transition to New Service Providers
In a related development, Hamidreza Sheikhi, Director General of Welfare Services at the CSRO, announced the conclusion of the Fund’s cooperation contract with the Refah chain stores. Consequently, this service will not be renewed, and Refah stores will no longer be included in the list of service providers for the Fund’s retirees.
Sheikhi stressed that the CSRO is continually striving to provide diverse welfare and shopping services for its retirees and beneficiaries by contracting with reputable and capable entities. To this end, alternative programs for providing credit purchase services are being implemented.
New Credit Agreements with Major Retailers
Two new key agreements have been finalized to replace previous arrangements:
With Daily Market Chain Stores: Based on a memorandum of understanding with Daily Market, retirees can make credit purchases. Each retiree is allocated a credit line of up to 30 million Rials based on their net monthly pension. The cost of purchases will be interest-free and deducted in three equal installments from their monthly pension. This service is currently available in-person at Daily Market stores, with a cap of 3 million Tomans per transaction. Any amount exceeding the credit limit must be paid in cash.
With the ‘Tara’ Platform: A separate MoU with the ‘Tara’ platform allocates an additional credit line of 10 million Tomans for retirees with a two-month repayment period. This credit can be used both in-person and online at a wide network of stores across the country covered by the ‘Tara’ platform, including major chains like Daily Market, Hafth, Ofogh Kourosh, and others.
The official start date for these new credit services will be announced following the completion of necessary technical stages and finalization of the required platforms. This comprehensive digital shift represents a strategic enhancement of Iran’s social safety net, leveraging technology to directly support and empower its retired community.