Atehre Nizadi, the Deputy of the Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs in Iran, stated on Wednesday, December 8, that the law reducing working hours for women was "issued" by Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in October of this year. Nizadi told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News Network that "since this law has been issued by the President, it is applicable and mandatory for all government agencies." According to this official, the law applies to "all working women," including those employed officially, contractually, and temporarily. The Islamic Consultative Assembly approved the law to reduce working hours for employed women while maintaining their rights and benefits on the first of October. This bill had previously been approved by parliament representatives in May of this year, but due to objections from the Guardian Council, it underwent changes that also received the positive vote of this council. With the approval of this law, the working hours for women with "specific conditions" will be reduced from 44 to 36 hours per week. The reduction in working hours for these individuals will be based on the request of the applicant while maintaining their rights and benefits. Women with "specific conditions" are defined as those with "children under seven years old, spouses or children with disabilities or suffering from specific or chronic illnesses," or "women who are heads of households working in executive agencies and the non-governmental sector, including those covered by labor law and social security law." Zahra Saidi, the spokesperson for the Women's Faction in Parliament, stated at that time that the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education or the Welfare Organization or the Judiciary would be responsible for determining the eligibility of working women with "specific conditions." For example, the approval of the degree and severity of the disability of the spouse or child of the applicants will be the responsibility of the Welfare Organization. The necessary budget for the implementation of this law and the costs related to compensating for the reduction in working hours of these individuals will also be provided by the government.
Mandatory Implementation of the Law Reducing Working Hours for Women in Iranian Government Agencies
The Iranian government has mandated a law reducing working hours for women in public sector jobs, decreasing their weekly hours from 44 to 36. This law applies to all working women, particularly those with specific conditions such as caregiving responsibilities. This development is significant as it reflects ongoing efforts to address women's rights and work-life balance in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian government has mandated a law reducing working hours for women in public sector jobs from 44 to 36 hours per week. This law is applicable to all working women, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities.
- The law applies to women with children under seven, or those with spouses or children with disabilities.
- The government will cover the costs associated with the reduction in working hours.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Women's rights in Iran have been a contentious issue, with ongoing debates about gender equality and labor laws. This law is part of broader efforts to address these issues.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%