**خبرگزاری آفتاب نیوز:**
嗑 According to the announcement by the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, Ahmad Midri, during the unveiling of one hundred investment opportunities in the country’s Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) organization on Tuesday, stated that the President, during the election campaign, expressed his firm belief in the private sector and merchants by quoting from Nahj al-Balaghah and the letter to Malik. He emphasized that the letter from Imam Ali (PBUH) to Malik Ashter provides a comprehensive sociology of the different groups in society and their strengths and weaknesses, and should be read multiple times.
Midri explained that Imam Ali (PBUH), in his letter to Malik Ashter, describes the details of various professions and groups, stating that each group can be understood and improved with the help of other groups. He notes that Imam Ali (PBUH) mentions merchants, saying they are the creators of means of livelihood from a distance, and are described as peace-seeking. Imam Ali (PBUH) advises Malik Ashter not to fear opposition from merchants, considering them and the industrialists as the pillars of society and advising Malik to keep them close.
**Understanding Different Social Groups:**
Midri continued that Imam Ali (PBUH) provides a precise description of different social groups and their characteristics in the letter, without sanctifying any of them, and advises Malik to be gentle with the people. He emphasized that medical professionals regularly discuss this topic in various weekly sessions, explaining the importance of engaging with the private sector and business owners to combat sanctions and achieve regional development.
**Determining Minimum Wages Based on Professions:**
The Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare further mentioned one of the ministry’s programs, which involves setting minimum wages based on professions. He stated that Article 141 grants them the authority to set minimum wages according to the type of jobs and professions, and their strategy is to move towards determining wages based on professions. He explained that sometimes the minimum wages set in Tehran may not be feasible for the same profession in another province, leading to stagnation. Therefore, they plan to determine the minimum wage for at least one profession in each province in collaboration with the provincial governorates, chambers of commerce, and representatives of labor organizations.
Midri noted that implementing regional minimum wages in the country is currently not feasible due to the lack of infrastructure. He explained that in countries with regional minimum wages, labor migration is monitored by municipalities, which is not the case in Iran.
**Reforming the Social Security Organization and Labor Relations:**
Midri discussed the ongoing reform of the Social Security Organization and labor relations, stating that discussions began in this area during his tenure as the Deputy for Welfare. He expressed the intention to address one of the issues facing business owners each quarter with the help of the Chamber of Commerce starting from the next year, and proposed that a representative of the chamber should be included in the supervisory board.
**Reviewing Foreign Exchange Management Policies:**
Midri emphasized the need to change the country’s foreign exchange management policies, which have been in effect since 2018. He pointed out that in 2019, imports were managed with $36 billion, but despite the current $68 billion in foreign exchange consumption, official imports, and capital outflows, the country still faces currency price fluctuations. This indicates the need for a review of policies with the participation of business owners.
**Collaboration for Enhancing TVET:**
Midri described the collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce and the country’s TVET organization as essential. He stated that TVET should cover the entire process from designing educational materials to teacher training, financial provision, and exam administration. He emphasized that if collaboration is comprehensive, TVET can be significantly enhanced. However, if it is limited to one area, it will not yield results.
**Importance of Vocational Education:**
The Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare highlighted the importance of vocational education in the country. He recounted an experience from his time as the Deputy for Welfare, where he invited a planning official from India to share his country’s experiences with the Iranian Parliament. The official responded to a question about the accountability of officials if unemployment rose, stating that he would question the head of the TVET organization. This response was surprising and highlighted the need for vocational education to ensure that the workforce is equipped to handle any economic situation.
**Factors of Unemployment in Iran:**
Midri stated that one of the main reasons for poverty is the lack of skills and vocational education. He noted that in Austria, 75% to 80% of students attend technical and vocational schools, where businesses have a close relationship with educational centers. He emphasized the need for a similar relationship between businesses and TVET organizations in Iran.
**Addressing the Skilled Labor Shortage:**
Midri identified the lack of skilled labor as a significant factor in unemployment, both globally and in Iran. He stressed the need to incorporate skill training into the agenda and highlighted the role of the TVET organization in achieving this. He mentioned that with the cooperation of the private sector, they aim to identify job and business opportunities and train skilled labor. He acknowledged that this is a challenging task but is achievable with the collaboration of the private sector.
**Delegating the Distribution of Commodity Baskets to the Private Sector:**
Midri emphasized the need to outsource certain government activities and pointed out that in 2013, the Rouhani government introduced a commodity basket program for the public, which faced implementation challenges due to distribution issues. After conducting a review, they concluded that the government should not be involved in the supply and distribution of goods. If the plan is to distribute resources and subsidies to the public, it can be done through cooperatives and stores. During his tenure as Deputy for Welfare, they managed to distribute 15 million packages with just two staff members. This model was continued in the Raisi government’s electronic commodity basket program, where the distribution was handled by other individuals with minimal resources and costs.
**Unveiling of 100 Investment Opportunities in the TVET Organization:**
In this event, the presence of Samad Hosseini-Zadeh, Chairman of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture; Gholamreza Mohammad, Deputy Minister and Head of the TVET Organization; Peyman Bagheri, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce; and Isa Mansouri, Chairman of the Iran Chamber Research Center, 100 investment opportunities were unveiled to enhance the educational infrastructure and strengthen the role of the private and cooperative sectors in skill development.
The Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, in the 14th government, has designed six key strategies for skill development based on the role and importance of the skill development system in the economic cycle and job market, with a focus on regional development and justice through the utilization of private sector capabilities:
1. **Joint Education Programs:** Creating joint educational programs in collaboration with the private sector and government organizations to enhance quality and productivity.
2. **Integrated Courses:** Offering integrated educational programs that combine theoretical and practical learning.
3. **Participation in Job Creation:** Using skill training as a tool for creating sustainable job opportunities.
4. **Expanding Educational Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Areas:** Developing educational centers in less privileged areas to reduce regional inequalities.
5. **Sharing Educational Center Capacities with the Private Sector:** Leveraging the knowledge and expertise of the private sector in designing and implementing educational programs.
6. **Focusing on Regional Needs:** Designing educational programs based on the specific needs of each region to reduce migration and strengthen the local economy.
One hundred investment opportunities in the affiliated centers of the TVET organization across the country, with an emphasis on practical education in the workplace and production through different models of collaboration and investment, have been presented.