Financial Tribune: The Supreme Labor Council has agreed to raise workers’ housing allowance from 1 million rials ($5.6) to 3 million rials ($17), the cooperatives, labor and social welfare minister said. “The increase, however, needs to be approved by the Iranian Cabinet before taking effect,” Mohammad Shariatmadari added. The council, which consists of representatives of the government, employers and workers, also deducted 750,000 rials ($4.2) from workers’ severance pay base and added the sum directly to their minimum wage. The current year’s minimum wage will see a 26% increase compared with last year’s to reach 19.11 million rials ($108.5).