Social Security in Iran

In 1933, the unearthing of 85 clayish tablets in Persepolis (Takhte Jamshid) during excavation indicated some cases of Social Security Services for workers of Achaemenian periods. These findings shows that Iranian workers were wage earners. As well, there were certain record system for payment and the rate of workers› wages was depended on their skills. Moreover, different persons in the same jobs often had equal salaries and those workers who had minimum salaries received additional amounts and remunerations. Meanwhile female workers after confinement, were exempted from work for 5 months and received a part of their salaries. All of family members of government staff had benefited from governed services such as allowances and some necessities of life. During employment, the employer had been responsible for food, housing and clothing of workers. Workers had been cured during sickness, accidents and physical injuries.

The noticeable point is the presence of nonlocal and foreign workers from Egypt, Syria and Greece. The workers from the lands possessed by Achaemenian, after finishing their work received their salaries. These workers did not have any difference with other workers.

One of the most important manifestations of social security in the past 25 centuries was to pay an advance that has been mentioned in the tablet No.21. We can claim that this tablet shows the depth of attention of government system to lives of people. One of the other interesting points in these tablets is that in many of cases, men and women worked in the same level and the rate of their salaries depends on their skills and not on their sexuality. In addition, female workers who were breast-feeding their babies and taking them to the kindergarten received extra amount.

The activity of social security in Iran dates back to 1931, with the construction of Trans Iranian Railway in 1930. It started with the establishment of workers› provident fund for supporting those workers and their families who were working on the roads. As well, construction workers were supported in 1932, and finally the Workers Insurance Act was approved in Parliament in 1943 and put into effect in 1945. With passing of time and for development of insurance coverage to more workers groups, some reforms were provided during 1945 – 1952 and approved by Parliament. At last for the first time, the workers› Social Insurance statutory Act was approved in 1952 and this organization started its activity in 1953. In 1975, Social Security Law was approved and replaced Workers Social Insurance Act and as a result, an organization named "Social Security Organization" was established. Currently, Social Security Organization as a major social insurer organization and a non governmental Institution provides 18 services, in the form of short term and long term obligations in insurance and Medical section for about 7/5 million insureds and one million and 200000 retirees and beneficiaries. These payments have been provided in the form of different pensions (old age, disabilities and survivors), compensation of wages (maternity and sickness), unemployment insurance, marriage allowances, medical aid devices, , funeral allowances and different kinds of loans. According to the 29th principle of constitutional law of the Islamic Republic System of Iran, Social Security has been described as a general right as well as a government responsibility for all people. During the years after Islamic Revolution, although many organizations and insurance departments were established for providing social security services to different parts of society, Social Security Organization that has activity according to approved law of 1975, cover the largest part of society members equal to over 27 million persons. According to Law, Social Security Organization is a nongovernmental organization that its financial resources financed by contributions (with participation of insured, employer and government) and is not dependent on governmental resources. This organization is mainly supported by tripartite contribution of employers, insurds and government in different areas of policy making, remarkable decisions and financing of financial resources. Liabilities of this organization have been organized according to defined Standards of Labor International Organization (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA), and in fact, comprises the highest limit of this standard. According to the Law, the Organization is obliged to provide these liabilities and services. The coverage extention of social security insurance to all employed members of country is one of the approaches that from the formation of social security organization has been emphasized and up to now with existing provisions, social insurance net has been extended to self employed, outside drivers and so on. Lately, and in continuation of this approach, there has been provided necessary base for acceleration of social security coverage to clergymen and so on. Objectives and Missions In order to have an effective, continuous and dynamic presence in the field of national and international Information and Communication Technology, moving towards electronic government, knowledge-based management, regulating and integrating the flow of information as well as making optimal use of modern technological capacities to establish a mutual interrelation with the addressees, the SSO’s formal website has been planned and activated, considering the general activity framework of the SSO’s formal database with the following objectives: 1. Setting up mutual relationship with International Social Security Organizations and introducing the SSO through internet; 2. Making use of the information technology to achieve the SSO’s goals; 3. Equipping the SSO with the latest technological developments and outcomes in the field of Information and Communication Technology; 4. Adapting the communicative tools with current status of the country and the world; 5. Creating new communicative methods for the addressees and observers of the SSO website within the shortest time and expending the minimal cost; 6. Providing information in the field of the SSO services and activities along with implementing the goal of establishing an "Accountable Organization"; 7. Making the possibility of setting up relationship, creating the expansive net of the organization at the level of the headquarter, provinces and administrative offices as well as the affiliated companies and institutions in order to form the figurative constellation of the SSO; 8. Providing the content of forming the figurative organizational branches besides preparing the organization for entering the world of Electronic Government and Electronic Trade. Vision The ultimate goal of social security organization is to achieve a knowledge-oriented, competent, sustainable, trustworthy and accountable organization in order to preserve human dignity, and contribute to the accomplishment of social justice through improvements of lives and well being of the insured and their families.