TEHRAN -- President Mohammad Khatami in a ceremony marking the intentional labor day here Saturday awarded some 14 'exemplary laborers', among them three women, for the Iranian calendar year of 1380.

The laborers were awarded for their efforts to invent, innovate and present ideas that have saved over $5 million for Iranian industries.

Also at the ceremony, deputy minister of labor for social and cultural affairs Fatemeh Karroubi appreciated the efforts of the women exemplary laborers.

She stressed that national development will make no progress if the state of affairs are viewed through a male-oriented outlook, and added that a sense of cooperation, creativity, sympathy and support is a must to accelerate such development.