The Supreme Labor Council meeting to determine the 2014 wage is underway.

According to Ashura News, citing Mehr News Agency, the 335th session of the Supreme Labor Council regarding the determination of the 1404 wage began a few minutes ago with the presence of labor, employer, and government representatives.

Saeed Shojaei, Deputy Minister of Planning of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade, said at the Supreme Labor Council meeting: "We have concerns from manufacturers, and due to the imbalance issues, costs that are practically outside their planning have been imposed. On the other hand, when we consider the entire chain, pricing is also done at the end."

He added: "In this regard, we will keep the increase in line with inflation, which is 32 percent or whatever rate is announced by the end of March."

Determining wages with a collective perspective

Majid Ahangarian, the employer representative in the Supreme Labor Council, also said: This year, the labor relations sector has presented numerous comparative studies and reports on wage determination in other countries, and the opinions of experts and elites in the labor, employer, and economic sectors have also been obtained and summarized.

He continued: In the area of ​​the livelihood basket, the necessary coordination and deliberations have been carried out, and the topics of previous meetings have progressed to the point where we will probably be able to make more executive decisions today in accordance with Article 41 of the Labor Law.

He added: We hope that this year, with a collective perspective based on scientific and economic principles, we will reach a single and desirable decision that will satisfy all social partners.

The negotiation process is positive

Ali Khodai, the worker representative in the Supreme Labor Council, continued: The process of wage negotiations this year, especially in determining the livelihood basket, has been positive, and I hope this process will continue.

He stated: "I predict that we will be able to reach a good agreement that this year's wage will be approved by consensus and will have a result that will benefit workers, employers, and the country's overall production."

This labor representative added: "We will do our utmost to achieve the highest percentage of the livelihood basket coverage coefficient so that the lost purchasing power of workers is compensated and the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage is reduced."

Having sufficient purchasing power

Ahmad Reza Moeini, a labor representative in the Supreme Labor Council, emphasized regarding the 2014 wage: "The main demand of workers is to maintain and increase purchasing power, because simply determining the percentages of wage increases without considering the real costs of living will not provide for their livelihood."

He added: "In determining the minimum wage, the decrease in workers' purchasing power this year as well as expected inflation next year must be taken into account."

He reminded: Having sufficient purchasing power is essential to continue working, and this is in line with the emphasis of the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare and the President on the need to maintain workers' purchasing power.

Moeini said: The main demand of workers is to maintain and increase their purchasing power, because simply determining the percentages of wage increases without considering the real costs of living will not provide for their livelihood.

He clarified: In determining the minimum wage, the decrease in workers' purchasing power this year, as well as the expected inflation next year, must be taken into account.

The motivation of the workforce must be maintained

Ali Asghar Ahaniha, the employer representative in the Supreme Labor Council, also stated: One of the employers' proposals for determining wages is to calculate it based on inflation; especially since in the discussion of the livelihood basket, employers do not have a specific share in the analysis, and we request that our share be determined as well.

He said: "One of the best suggestions is to use the Kalabarg, which the government can develop. In addition, housing and non-cash vouchers should be pursued more seriously as solutions to reduce pressures and strengthen the livelihoods of workers." He stated: "The base of inflation should be placed in salaries to reduce the gap between wages and other levels and maintain the motivation of the workforce."