Title: Landmark Pension Reform Initiative Gains Momentum, Aims for Economic Balance
In a significant move to address long-standing economic concerns, a senior government official has detailed a comprehensive plan to enhance pensioner benefits and reform civil service regulations. The initiative, which includes a pivotal amendment to Article 106 of the National Civil Service Management Law, marks the first major pension adjustment in over a decade.
A Dual-Purpose Reform
Zabihollah Salmani, Deputy for Human Capital at the Administrative and Employment Organization, announced that the government’s program is actively being implemented. He clarified that the core objectives of this legislation are twofold: to reduce the incentive for early retirement and to manage the income gap between active employees and pensioners.
“Beyond strengthening the livelihood of our retirees,” Salmani stated, “this plan is also projected to create more job opportunities for the younger generation.”
Alignment with National Development Goals
The reform is firmly embedded within the framework of the country’s Seventh Development Plan. According to official statements, this plan envisions a gradual alignment of pensioner and active employee benefits, aiming to reach a convergence of up to 90 percent. This measured approach is designed to ensure sustainable implementation.
Salmani further emphasized that the initiative addresses structural disparities, including benefit gaps between different labor laws and existing imbalances within the pension fund.
Broader Administrative Modernization
The pension reform is part of a larger strategy for national administrative agility. Salmani pointed to parallel efforts for organizational restructuring and a planned 15 percent reduction in human resources, as mandated by the Seventh Development Plan. He also announced the execution of an “Administrative Urgencies Program” aimed at enhancing service delivery processes and monitoring the efficiency of the administrative system.
A Call for Collaborative Support
Highlighting the national importance of this endeavor, the deputy official called for closer cooperation from the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) and media outlets. He urged them to lend their support to the pension harmonization plan, underscoring its role in the nation’s broader economic and social stability.