TEHRAN The Iranian labor force is enjoying better economic status in society, said Labor House Secretary Alireza Mahjoob. In an interview with the Tehran Times, Mahjoob said, Khaneh Kargar or the Labor House has rendered valuable services to the workers in Iran in all aspects of life. He said, special provision for an early retirement of media persons, nurses and laborers is being made in Iran through a bill already filed with the Majlis. Mahjoob said, the media, nursing and labor professions are sensitive and taxing and members need early retirement as are normally accorded to others.

The Labor House has established workers' cooperative societies to provide housing and consumers goods and has also made interest-free loans, insurance in the event of unemployment and in accordance with the labor laws available, he said. He gave the interview on the occasion of Labor Day which was observed on May 1. Quoting the late Imam Khomeini, Mahjoob said The Imam had in view of making Labor Day a day to bury domination as a goal of imperialist powers.

On the basis of the Imam's intention, there is no room for the exploitation of workers, Mahjoob said. In Islam, great attention has been paid to the improvement of the lot of workers and all efforts are further being made to improve their social and economic status in society, Mahjoob said. (The existence of) temporary contracts for the services of certain workers is one of the major problems which has attracted the attention of our officials, he said, adding that these temporary contracts do not provide job guarantees to the concerned workers.

Mahjoob criticized the contractual system of employment saying the practice is defective in that health insurance is provided in principle but that medical facilities have yet to be provided to them free. Workers' wages are much less compared to what they need for their families's expenses, Mahjoob said, pointing out that efforts are being to make things better and suitable.