“Workers of other pay levels (above the minimum) will see a rise of 26% plus a monthly fixed sum of 2.41 million rials ($9.7),” he told the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network.

As per the decision made at the latest meeting of the Supreme Labor Council on March 13, representatives of workers, employers, and the government agreed to set the daily wage at 885,000 rials ($3.56), which raises the monthly minimum wage to 26.55 million rials.

Iran has three million home-based producers, but the real number is definitely higher as many home-based businesses are operating unofficially, Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Mohammad Shariatmadari said.

“The share of home jobs in the total number of jobs is 4-6% and their share of gross domestic product is 2-2.5%. Under coronavirus conditions, their share is bound to increase,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA.

More than 2,000 billion rials ($7.69 million) in loans were approved for home-based businesses in the year ending March 2020 and 20,000 people received these loans and 35,000 jobs were created.

“In the current fiscal year (March 2020-21), another 2,000 billion rials in loans have been approved and from March 20 till Nov. 20, upwards of 5,000 people have taken out these loans and more than 6,700 jobs have been created,” he said.

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In this meeting, Iranian Labor Minister Shariatmadari pointed to the current situation of Syria which has come out of war and said, “Iran is ready to take part in Syria’s reconstruction.”

In addition, Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to transfer technical knowhow and expertise to Syria, he added.

For her part, Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Rima Qadiri seixed this opportunity to express his thanks to the Iranian government and nation that stood by Syrian nation in the course of resistance and added, “we expect Iranian government to help Syria accelerate reconstruction activities.”

“Many lost their lives and [the war] impacted our economic and social life. We would be definitely glad to have you beside Syria given your significant expertise,” she added, urging Iran to instruct and educate professional manpower in Syria.

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Some 60 percent of the whole world’s population constituting 3.4 billion people, including workforce, are living in Asia-Pacific region, he said, adding that despite the differences all countries in this region should cooperate to create sustainable employment opportunities for all.

Things are changing fast now and have impacts on the workforce, technology advances, climate change, demographic changes, etc. are affecting various regions differently, he added.

He went on to say that new technologies have seriously affected jobs and had various consequences for the economies and job opportunities, so that following the new technology trends and teaching necessary vocational skills to the workforce are vital.

The minister also highlighted that despite economic growth there are not enough decent job opportunities in some economies in the region.

Shariatmadari also mentioned ILO’s most recent report, entitled Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2018 (APESO): Advancing decent work for sustainable development regretting the increasing number of unemployed and people having informal jobs.

Based on ILO’s report, despite two decades of economic growth, Asia-Pacific still faces structural weaknesses in its labor markets.

According to the first edition of the APESO, although the regional unemployment rate is projected to remain at 4.1 per cent through 2020, the vulnerable employment rate is expected to creep up towards 49 per cent, reversing a downward trend of at least two decades.

While the Asia-Pacific region has made rapid progress to substantially reduce extreme poverty, one fourth of all workers in the region – 446 million workers – still lived in moderate or extreme poverty in 2017 and nearly half of the workforce – 930 million people – were still making a living in vulnerable employment as own-account or unpaid contributing family workers.

More than two in three workers were in informal employment in 2016, which is closely linked to the 48.6 per cent of workers still in vulnerable categories of employment. The informal employment rate is particularly high in Southern Asia, where almost 88 per cent of workers were informally employed.

The minister also noted that employment would lead to reducing poverty, saying that economic growth cannot solely result in poverty reduction unless it creates decent jobs.

Empowering and supporting the youth would help in having a brighter future, he suggested.

Shariatmadari also lamented that one-sided, unfair U.S.-sanctions imposed on Iran would definitely affect human rights, social justice, and everyone’s right to have a decent job, this is economic terrorism.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has established a national plan for decent jobs creation in line with sixth national development plan, he highlighted.

Using the youth potential, empowering work institutes, developing vocational skills, and supporting firms, specially newly funded knowledge-based companies are of the plans to generate decent jobs in the country, he stated.

Emphasizing the fact that Iranian government has attached a great importance to the development of innovative technology startups he also explained that Iran played host to the 1st Asia Pacific Innovation Forum held on June 10-12.

The theme of the Forum was “Technology Start-ups for Sustainable Development” in recognition of technology as a key means for sustainable development goals. The Forum was an opportunity to showcase the most innovative technology start-up initiatives, discover frontier technological advancements from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and develop partnerships with other member States so that the countries in the region can move forward together to face great opportunities and challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Iran has gained considerable experience and knowledge in supporting startups knowledge-based companies and is ready to exchange this knowledge with other countries in the region, he concluded.

This year the 108th International Labor Conference brought together over 6,000 delegates from around the globe to find solutions to the challenges of the future of the world of work, and celebrate the Centenary of the International Labor Organization.

The conference, which is often called an international parliament of labor, has several main tasks.

The crafting and adoption of international labor standards in the form of conventions and recommendations, supervising the application of conventions and recommendations at the national level, and representing a forum where social and labor questions of importance to the entire world are discussed are some of the main tasks.

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These producers produced 14.169 million tons of crude steel during the eight-month period of the previous year.

Also as reported by the World Steel Association (WSA) in November, production of crude steel in Iran stood at 20.59 million tons during the first ten months of 2018, indicating 19 percent rise from 17.303 million tons in the same period of time in 2017.

“Iran produces 34 million tons of steel per year and is aimed at producing 55 million tons of the product by 2025,” according to the previous industry minister, Mohammad Shariatmadari.

To hit the target, Iran is in need of attracting €8 billion of investments, he said in last July.

He also announced that the country exports 9 million tons of crude steel per year and plans to improve the figure up to 15 million tons by 2025.

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Rouhani had attempted a cabinet reshuffle by proposing Farhad Dejpasand as the minister of economy, Mohammad Eslami as minister of transport and urban development, Mohammad Shariatmadari as minister of cooperative, labor, and social welfare, and Reza Rahmani as minister of industry, mine and trade.

Eslami received 151 yeas, 98 nays, and 8 abstentions. Shariatmadari received 196 yeas, 63 nays, and 5 abstentions. Dejpasand received 200 yeas, 50 nays, and 15 abstentions. Rahmani received 203 yeas, 49 nays, and 13 abstentions.

Dejpasand says cooperation is key to resolving economic issues

Dejpasand, President Rouhani’s pick for economy minister, told lawmakers one of his plans is to establish centers with the aim of boosting cooperation among the administration, parliament, private sector and academia in order to resolve the economic issues.

Dejpasand referred to his experience during Iraq’s imposed war against Iran in the 80s as a model he has since followed to succeed. “We were faced with an economic war during that time as well, but with our high social capital we managed to succeed,” he said.

He pointed out that immediate measures need to be taken to prevent hyperinflation, explaining, however, that the Economy Ministry’s capacities are not enough to reach that end.

Pointing to the difficulty of raising the necessary financing in today’s economy, Dejpasand said, “In the current situation, financing must be one of our plans, which can be pursued through domestic and foreign investment.”

He also said the banking system must be reformed before any major economic decision.

“The first issue Mr. Rouhani brought up in our meeting was the need to reform the banking system,” he said, adding that the top banks of the country are currently suffering from several issues.

He went on, “Overdue debts is one of such issues. We should gather and think to collect such debts. There should be incentive and punitive mechanisms.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Dejpasand pointed to the high level of liquidity in Iran’s economy, saying the liquidity should be turned into a tool to revive the economy.

Head of Majlis Production and Employment Committee later spoke in favor of Dejpasand, saying he is able to unify the Economy Ministry with the Planning and Budget Organization and the Central Bank of Iran.

“In the past years, a lack of coordination in the administration’s economic team was a major concern, but with Mr. Dejpasand such coordination will be formed,” Qolamreza Kateb said.

MP Ramezanali Sobhanifar also spoke highly of the proposed economy minister and said Dejpasand “was one of the effective individuals in drafting the sixth five-year development plan.”

He added that Dejpasand’s plans are in line with the general policies of the Islamic Republic and the resistance economy.

Ali Sari, who represents Ahwaz in the parliament, criticized the proposed economy minister, saying his “plans are just theory and it is impossible to put them into practice.”

Dejpasand has not proposed any practical solutions to resolve the economic issues, Sari said.

Shariatmadari promises transparency

Shariatmadari who was proposed as minister of cooperatives, labor, and social welfare said during his speech at the parliament that it is only transparency that can help fighting corruption.

“If there is corruption in an executive body and that body recognizes it, it [the body] should be praised,” he said.

He said that he will create infrastructures that make all the Pension Fund’s operations transparent.

Ruhollah Babaee Saleh, an MP who represents Buin Zahra, spoke for vote of confidence to Shariatmadari and described him as a “determined person in fighting organized corruption”.

It is notable that Shariatmadari is familiar with challenges in society, he said.

He also said that Shariatmadari is capable of coordinating related bodies for the country’s sustainable development.

Vali Maleki, an MP who represents Meshginshahr, was against appointment of Shariatmadari.

He said that Shariatmadari observes moral codes, but did not take any practical action to solve economic problems when he was at committee of industry for about one year.

He noted that no manager can be successful if he does not have goals to achieve in his plans.

Gholam Ali Jafarzadeh Emenabadi, an MP who represents Rasht, was also for giving vote of confident to Shariatmadari and called him a “guerrilla in the current [economic] war”.

“Enemies seek to exert pressure against the Iranian people and Mr. Shariatmadari is experienced enough to help,” he said.

Eslami says will prioritize strategic plans

Eslami was the third proposed minister to speak in defense of his plans for the Ministry of Road and Transport.

He said if made minister, he would prioritize strategic plans to facilitate the progression of developmental plans under current economic situations.

Eslami said he will have highest on agenda the Sixth Development Plan, removal of hindrances to production, and improvement of business environment.

MP Mohammad Reza Rezaee Kuchi, the head of Majlis Development Committee, spoke in favor of Eslami, saying the current shortcomings could only be tackled through the nominee’s plan of attracting finance.

“There are 2,970 unfinished plans in on the ministry’s agenda which cannot be funded through bonds or treasury documents. The only effective way to put them back on track is by what Mr. Eslami says he plans to employ, that is, domestic and foreign finance and the private sector cooperation.”

Then MP Mohammad Feyzi spoke against Eslami, raising doubt that he has any plan for the ministry.

“Was it not through the resignation of one minister that you were nominated? Because what I have my colleagues have heard is that your nomination was decided after an overnight negotiation and lobbyism,” Feyzi told Eslami.

Rahmani announces plans for production and employment

Rahmani was the last proposed minister to defend his agenda for the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade.

He said he would prioritize production and stable employment. “I will not use a crisis [management] room, but will turn that room into one for prevention and treatment,” he said.

He added that he had a plan to create an online “production and trade dashboard” for the live reporting of production and trade figures.

He also said his ministry would have special plans for the renovation of the transportation fleet.

MP Mahmoud Sadeqi spoke against Rahmani, saying he has no plan for the auto industry, among others. “Rahmani’s plans have no agenda, for example, for the amount of auto imports or electric cars,” he noted.

“There is no mention of the sanctions and post-sanctions eras in the industrial sector. Nor is there any plan under the extraordinary situations for the survival of businesses,” Sadeqi said.

Ali Asghar Yusofnejad was the next MP to speak. He defended Rahmani.

Rahmani has ample eligibility for the position, regarding his education resume and executive record.

He also said Rahmani’s plans adhere to the major state policies concerning his proposed area of supervision.

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The system includes the comprehensive trade system, goods identification system, integrated system of warehouses, validation system and credit rating system of the merchants.

The system seeks to facilitate trade procedures for Iranian businessmen and combat trafficking of strategic goods besides systematic corruption, the report quoted an official from the industry ministry, Behnam Amiri, as announcing addressing the unveiling ceremony of the system at the Tehran Permanent International Fairgrounds.

As Amiri hoped, the integrated system will bring acceleration, ease, and transparency into domestic trade transactions.

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Mohammad Shariatmadari made the remarks on Sunday in the inaugural ceremony of a three-day exhibition for SMEs to showcase their latest achievements and capabilities.

The minister also said that in the ‘supporting production’ package, which will be soon presented to the government, some measures have been planned for helping and supporting the industries.

The exhibit on the capabilities of Iranian SMEs (SME IRAN 2018) is attended by over 1200 Iranian SMEs and 15 foreign enterprises from various countries including Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea and Pakistan.

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In a brave move on June 25 Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi revealed the names of 40 companies which had received foreign currency to import cellphones but sold them based on the price of foreign currency in the black market, which is nearly twice the official rate.

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Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari arrived in Turkey’s capital Ankara on Monday to attend the presidential oath ceremony of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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“Our main target in the field of production is reducing the end price of products in the current year, which is the year of Support for Iranian Products”, Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari announced in a press conference on Saturday.

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