![\"IRAN:](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/Workers-Protest-Outside-Health-Ministry-iran.jpg\" "\\"Workers-Protest-Outside-Health-Ministry-iran\\"")
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By Staff Writer<\/p>\n
Dozens of workers\u2019 representatives from across Iran gathered in front of regime\u2019s Health Ministry headquarters in Tehran to protest against the ministry\u2019s aggression on the assets belonging to the Social Security Organization (SSO).<\/p>\n
To commemorate the Social Security Day, the gathering was held on July 18, 2018, at a time when it\u2019s reported that withdrawals from the workers fund has left it on the verge of bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
According to clause 13 of this year\u2019s budget, the funds allocated to SSO\u2019s healthcare program will be kept by the country\u2019s treasury.<\/p>\n
Included in the country\u2019s 2018 budget by Hassan Rouhani\u2019s government, the clause was approved by regime\u2019s parliament and the Guardian Council last year, despite being widely criticized by labor formations.<\/p>\n
According to clause 13, the total funds allocated to healthcare have to be placed in a Social Security Healthcare Insurance Account held by the treasury, so the SSO can spend them according to the social security law.<\/p>\n
While the government and a number of MPs claim, according to state-run IRNA news agency, that the measure has been aimed at promoting SSO\u2019s financial transparency, workers and a number of experts have expressed concerns over the consequences of the legislation.<\/p>\n
Labor activists believe that workers\u2019 nine percent social healthcare entitlement is to be allocated to the so-called Healthcare Insurance, a plan that\u2019s been described by some state-run media as a failure.<\/p>\n
Secretary of East Tehran state-affiliated Worker House \u2018Fathollah Bayat\u2019 has meanwhile criticized the Healthcare Reform Plan, saying that the plan has seriously hurt the social security while disrespecting workers, retirees and all premium payers\u2019 rights, reports state-run ILNA news agency on July 16, 2018.<\/p>\n
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Bayat called on Health Minister \u2018Hassan Ghazizade Hashemi\u2019 to let go of the Social Security, saying \u201cill-wishers seek to walk off with the organization\u2019s assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also in this regard, secretary of the so-called Islamic Labor Councils Association \u2018Hossein Habibi\u2019 has recently announced that \u201cthe conditions has worsened so much that at Islamic Republic\u2019s fourth decade the Health Ministry has been authorized by the parliament to lift Social Security assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Habibi pointed to Health Minister as one of the main persons responsible for destroying workers\u2019 healthcare benefits, saying \u201cthe Health Minister has removed 70 to 120 drugs widely used by the society\u2019s vulnerable working class from the social insurance coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also taking part in the gathering was Akbar Shokat, secretary of Qom Worker House. Pointing out that workers and retirees are experiencing the worst situation possible, Shokat added \u201cthey not only see their healthcare assets gone, but have to endure country\u2019s 50-60 percent inflation as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government not only refuses to pay off its 140 thousand billion toman debt to the SSO, but has also integrated the Healthcare Reform Plan with the organization, so the plan could continue to remain in place,\u201d adds Shokat.<\/p>\n
Shokat then pointed out that MPs are reviewing a motion according to which the government will be exempt from paying any late fees for its debt to the SSO, adding \u201ceven the 140-thousand-billion-toman principal is to be reduced to one third.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ali Khodaee, member of High Council of Labor, meanwhile says that the parliament is working on a motion which is aimed at eliminating Social Security Law\u2019s article 41, according to which \u201cif required by type of job, the organization is authorized to set the pay-ratio and claim the associated premium accordingly, provided it\u2019s suggested by board of directors and approved by the High Council.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the article no longer in place, the premium the SSO receives from contractors will also be gone,\u201d says Khodaee, according to State-run ILNA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe motion has been brought to the parliament while claiming to be in line with leader\u2019s call for promoting Iranian made products,\u201d added the member of High Council of Labor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Staff Writer Dozens of workers’ representatives from across Iran gathered in front of regime’s Health Ministry headquarters in Tehran to protest against the ministry’s aggression on the assets belonging […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":51756,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[178],"class_list":{"0":"post-25057","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-protests","8":"tag-save"},"yoast_head":"\n