Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with thousands of laborers from across the country on Wednesday, elucidated the duties of various officials and organs with regard to domestic production.
Underscoring the need for a genuine fight to be launched against corruption and smuggling, he said, “The solution to people’s economic problems and challenges facing the labor community does not lie outside [borders], but exists in [the country] and [is tied to] boosting and promoting domestic production.”
Congratulating the birthdays of two Shia imams – Imam Ali (PBUH) and Imam Javad (PBUH) –, Ayatollah Khamenei said his meeting with laborers was aimed at praising the value of “labor and laborer,” and to remind officials and the society of the value of labor. “The prophet [Muhammad (PBHU)]’s kiss on the hand of a laborer is not merely a compliment, but a lesson.”
Hailing the strength, smartness and modesty of the labor community against incessant domestic and foreign instigations over the past three decades, the Leader said: “Having endured all hardships and difficulties, the labor community has embarked on incessant efforts for the country’s progress and, fairly speaking, it has passed this exam. [Now] officials have to reciprocate this sacrifice and modesty by making more efforts to resolve the problems of laborers.”
The Supreme Leader touched on some challenges facing laborers, including layoffs, unemployment, back pay and livelihood problems, saying: “These problems cannot be resolved with [mere] words, but require action and initiative.”
He said boosting domestic production sets the foundation for resolving the country’s problems and realizing the notion of the “economy of resistance.”
The Leader added: “Some say boosting domestic production is not possible under the conditions of sanctions and pressure. Unjust sanctions have undoubtedly contributed to the occurrence of problems, but without a doubt, sanctions and pressure could by no means block public, organized and planned endeavors for prosperous domestic production.”
To prove the inefficacy of the sanctions in blocking domestic efforts, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Iran’s significant progress in military industries, biotechnology, dam building, nanotechnology, knowledge-based industries and nuclear technology among others, adding: “In some of these fields, sanctions have exerted more pressure, but they have failed to create any obstacle on the way of efforts and progress by domestic manpower.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Of course, if no sanctions had been imposed, we would likely have progressed more in some of these fields. But in that case, it was also possible that we might have relied on oil money and these achievements would not have been made.”
The Supreme Leader said “attention to and concentration on production” will resolve economic problems and bring about “a feeling of dignity and national richness,” adding: “Strengthening the domestic structure of the power, including in the economic sector, will embolden negotiators at any negotiating table. Otherwise, the opposite party would not cease to lay out conditions and make nonsensical and irrelevant remarks.”
After elucidating the necessity of focusing on bringing prosperity to domestic production, Ayatollah Khamenei expounded on the requirements for realizing this major national goal.
He said rapport and empathy among all factors contributing to domestic production will help remove any big hurdle on the way of progress in the country, adding: “Domestic investors, as an important element contributing to domestic production, should allocate their facilities and capitals to this purpose.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “An investor who ignores gaining profits from brokering and non-manufacturing activities and instead contributes to domestic production is undoubtedly worshipping [God].”
He said laborers are obligated to help bolster domestic production, adding: “Fair consumers should also understand the country’s expediency, turn a blind eye to foreign brands and makes and rush to help [Iranian] laborers by consuming domestically produced commodities.”
Highlighting the huge size of state organs, the Supreme Leader said the government is the largest consumer of goods and, addressing the minister of labor, he said: “In the government, you should insist on the consumption of absolutely domestic commodities by the state organs and the government should consider any consumption of foreign commodities, in small or large quantities, as forbidden in case domestic ones exist.”.
Regarding the necessity of consuming domestic products by state organs, the Supreme Leader said: “The government should prevent negligence or, God forbid, abuse [in this regard].”
Ayatollah Khamenei said firm and practical struggle against smuggling is another effective factor in boosting domestic production.
He said: “Of course, importing some products is handled by the private sector, but the government can monitor imports in order to prevent any harm to domestic production.”
He added that more effective efforts by media for the purpose of promoting consumption of domestic products and stabilization of investment laws by the parliament were other factors promoting domestic production.
The Leader said: “Cultural officials should also act in a way that negation of laziness and praise of industriousness would become a value from the standpoint of general culture in the society.”
Another important point in the Supreme Leader’s speech was about fighting corruption.
He criticized use of empty words without deeds against corruption, saying: “By shouting ‘Stop Thief! Stop Thief!’ the thief would not be stopped. He has to be prevented.”
“The country’s officials are not media to speak constantly about corruption. They have to take action and block corruption in the real sense of the word.”
In conclusion, the Supreme Leader said: “The key to the economic problems is not in Lausanne and Geneva and New York, it’s inside the country and everyone should fulfill their different responsibilities for boosting domestic production as the only remedy to economic problems.”
“God willing, with more work and efforts, the problem of production will be resolved as the Iranian nation and officials have resolved bigger problems over the past three decades,” he said.
Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech, Minister of Labor, Cooperative and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei offered congratulations on the birthday of Imam Ali (PBUH), Imam Javad (PBUH) and Labor Week, saying: “The officials of labor community feel committed to sparing no effort to improve the life for the impoverished and safeguard the achievements of the Islamic establishment.”
He said benefiting from the great opportunity of skilled manpower, supporting small and knowledge-based enterprises, and moving towards endogenous economy are among the main chapters in the approach pursued by Ministry of Labor, Cooperative and Social Welfare.
Rabiei added that insuring all Iranians, raising the insurance benefits for villagers and raising the salary of laborers to a level above the inflation rate are among the services rendered under the 11th administration.
“Strengthening the pillars of social justice and doing away with maladies that harm different social groups constitute the main mission assigned to this ministry,” he said.