SHAHR-E-KORD, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province -- Deputy Minister of Interior for Planning and Logistics Gholamhossein Bolandian said here Saturday that 77 percent of civil servants do not have higher education.

Speaking at a seminar for provincial planning officials, he added that unfortunately the sluggish bureaucracy is not capable of carrying-out the government plans.

He also said that labor productivity is low due to lack of quality and level of education among the labor force, IRNA reported.

He further cited instilling motivation among the employees, implementing group and participatory systems in work places and more effective control and supervision in production process as important factors in boosting productivity.

Meanwhile, earlier in may the English-language newspaper *** Iran Daily **** published excerpts of a commentary from the Persian daily saying that inefficiency of existing economic structure, prevents increase in productivity. This problem is usually taken out on managers. However, most of the time, charges brought up against them to the effect that they are not capable of making the most of their employees' capabilities aim to divert attention from the real thing.

Some analysts claim that productivity of state employees is only 24 minutes for eight hours of work.

Labor law and tax law have been also frequently mentioned as important factors negatively affecting productivity.

Under these circumstances the bitter reality, however, is low salaries, which clearly indicates low productivity of domestic economy and its adverse effects in the livelihoods of ordinary people.