Coronavirus in Iran: Three million daily wage workers receive free subsidies
The Iranian government has promised to pay 200,000 to 600,000 tomans in cash assistance to street vendors and seasonal workers. Four million vulnerable households are set to receive low-interest loans of 1 to 2 million tomans, and a number of businesses will receive bank facilities.
The spread of the coronavirus in Iran and the slowdown in the business market have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Those who are unemployed, uninsured, and living on a daily basis have been hit hardest. Hassan Rouhani announced on Sunday, March 15, that the government has provided a free subsidy for three million seasonal workers, street vendors, and daily wage earners, the first payment of which will be made on Tuesday.
According to the head of the Planning and Budget Organization, one-person households will receive 200,000 Tomans, two-person households will receive 300,000 Tomans, three-person households will receive 400,000 Tomans, four-person households will receive 500,000 Tomans, and five-person households or more will receive 600,000 Tomans.
The government is also set to deposit one to two million tomans into the seasonal workers' subsidy card and repay the debt in installments three months later. Tax and insurance facilities have also been considered for tourism-related businesses, catering halls, and restaurants. At the same time, the head of the Central Bank has given 10 businesses affected by the coronavirus a three-month grace period to settle their debts and has said that low-interest loans will be paid to four million people.
Centers producing and distributing ready-made foods, including restaurants, buffets, banquet halls, coffee shops, delis, tourism-related centers including hotels, hotel apartments, tourism and tourism complexes, guesthouses, inns, ecotourism centers, accommodation and catering centers, entertainment and roadside services, public transportation for inner-city and outer-city passengers, travel and tourism service offices, and clothing production and distribution, have been granted a grace period to pay their installments and debts later.
Employees in the production and distribution of bags and shoes, distribution centers for nuts, dried fruits, confectionery, ice cream, and fruit juices, sports and recreational centers and complexes, cultural and educational centers and complexes, and centers for the production, distribution, and sale of handicrafts are also included in this list.
Ten days ago, 537 Iranian academics had called on Rouhani to consider subsidies and special livelihood packages for vulnerable groups in the context of the coronavirus outbreak and the inability of low-income and destitute households. Parvaneh Mafi, a member of parliament and head of the family faction, had previously said: “I personally have many referrals, including from women heads of households or men who are daily wage earners. They say, ‘OK, we are staying at home, but who will feed us and cover our daily expenses?’”
The government has decided to give people a three-month grace period to pay their water, electricity, gas, and municipal bills. At the same time, people have been asked to visit banks less often, and accordingly, the limit for each ATM withdrawal has been increased to 500,000 Tomans. The limit for card-to-card deposits, which was previously 3 million Tomans, has been increased to 10 million Tomans.
Abdolnaser Hemmati, the head of the Central Bank of Iran, says: "Banking system employees are in difficult conditions, some have died and some have gone into quarantine, so if people do not have essential work, they should not visit branches."
The government has not made a decision on bounced checks, but banking restrictions have been lifted for the owners of these checks for three months. With the market downturn during the coronavirus outbreak, the accounts of many economic workers have been left empty and many checks cannot be collected.
The government's economic measures have been announced while Hassan Rouhani, rejecting the quarantine of certain businesses, has emphasized that everyone is free to do their business and activities during Eid or other days. He said that provinces, governors, and health departments have no right to make decisions in this regard, and the authority to decide on the closure of certain businesses and businesses is the National Coronavirus Management Headquarters.
Source: DW
