Financial Tribune - Using the International Labor Organization’s Social Protection Floors Calculator, the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare has estimated the costs of public works programs for those without jobs, disability and old-age pensions.

According to the ministry’s Iranian Welfare Database, a total of 4.5 million Iranian households who fall within the five low-income deciles do not have a job at the country’s official labor markets and are not supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation or State Welfare Organization.

The government needs to spend 135 trillion rials ($843.75 million) equal to 0.73% of the country’s gross domestic product to expand social welfare programs to cover these households. This welfare program includes three payments in as many months to the tune of 10 million rials ($62) each, the Persian-language daily Shargh reported.