The Supreme Labor Council has approved a plan to reschedule the holiday of production units to reduce pressure on producers and prevent a decrease in production. This action is taken due to the continued power outages in industries and to manage electricity consumption. Saeed Shojaei, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, has announced that this plan could save about 1,200 megawatts during peak electricity consumption.
Implementation Consequences of Rescheduling Holidays
Implementing this plan will not be as simple as its approval on paper. Changing the holiday may lead to protests from workers. According to a circular issued to employers, working on Fridays is not subject to a wage increase, and employers are exempt from paying extra wages. Mehdi Amini, Vice Chairman of the Tax, Labor and Social Security Commission of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that this circular has been issued due to the limitations of electricity imbalance for industries and its implementation is mandatory.
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Diverse Opinions in the Private Sector
Among private sector activists, there are differing opinions regarding this plan. While the Vice Chairman of the Tax, Labor and Social Security Commission defends this plan, the Chairman of the Energy Commission of the Chamber of Commerce warns about the social consequences of this action. Arash Najafi, Chairman of the Energy Commission, considers the implementation of such plans to disrupt workers' comfort and believes that these changes could lead to workers' dissatisfaction and disruption in the country's work structures.
Najafi emphasized that instead of rescheduling holidays, electricity tariffs could be increased on specific days by installing smart meters and informing industries that their activities would be charged at a higher rate. This approach could help better manage electricity consumption while preventing workers' dissatisfaction.
Ultimately, this plan to reschedule the holiday is considered a solution to maintain production and manage electricity consumption in the current situation where the electricity imbalance in industries is seriously felt. However, it remains to be seen whether these changes can help improve the electricity supply situation for industries or if their social consequences will be broader.
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