Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.21
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iranian laborers have lost two thirds of their purchase power over the past decade.
Iranian Deputy Labor Minister Hassan Hefdahtan, said based on the Health Ministry's data, laborers have spent 40 percent of their wages for medical purposes over the past ten years, Iran's Mehr news agency reported Nov.21.
He blamed improper economic policies that have been taken by the former administration for this situation, saying that the current administration is working on a new plan to restructure health and social welfare services.
Some 7 million people in Iran are living in absolute poverty and their food security is at risk.
Iranian Labor Minister Ali Rabiei said within the framework of the subsidy reform plan, 7 million people have been identified as suffering from absolute poverty, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on October 28.
Minimum monthly wage for average Iranian family should be $560, according to the Statistical Center of Iran.
The Iranian administration has set the minimum salary for civil servants in the current Iranian calendar year at 6 million rials (about $240), Iran's Mehr news agency reported Oct. 29.
Adel Azar, director of the Statistical Center of Iran said that as of last spring, living in rural and urban areas cost an average Iranian family $310 and $560, respectively.
USD exchange rate in Iran is currently about 32,000 rials.