Concluding observations Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
86(a)
Full recommendation:
Prohibit the employment of children below the age of 18 years in hazardous conditions that
jeopardize physical, mental or moral health and the safety of children.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
The Iranian legislation prohibits employment of children younger than 15 years old2, but allows
the employment of juvenile or young workers above the age of 15 if they undergo frequent
medical exams conducted by the Ministry of Labour.3 Legislation also prohibits juvenile workers
over the age of 15 from being employed in hazardous professions or performing hard labour.4
In June 2020, the Iranian Guardian Council passed child protection legislation that criminalizes
economic exploitation and, inter alia, requires social workers from the State Welfare
Organization to promptly investigate cases of children in situations of “extreme danger” from
abuse, exploitation, or situations resulting in children not being enrolled or present in school.56
There is, as of now, no available information regarding the number of State Welfare
Organization’s investigations mandated under the 2020 law.
Despite these provisions, businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempt from certain legal
obligations7, such as maximum hour requirements,8 pay disability benefit for workplace injuries9
or mandatory regular medical testing for juvenile laborers.10 Such exemptions have been
considered by the Committee on the Rights of the Child as increasing the risk of economic
1
CRC.19.1.S.2; CRC.32.1.S.1; CRC.32.1.S.2; CRC.32.1.S.1
CRC.19.1.P.1; CRC.32.1.P.1
CRC.19.1.O.3
2
Labor Law of Iran, art. 79, available at http://www.mcls.gov.ir/fa/law/267
3
Labor Law of Iran, Article 80, available at http://www.mcls.gov.ir/fa/law/267
4
Articles 79 to 84 Labor Law of Iran, art. 79, available at http://www.mcls.gov.ir/fa/law/267
5
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/iran-child-protection-law-positive-insufficient
6
The Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran Official Website, https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/legal_draft/state/1055680
7
Law on businesses with fewer than 10 employees and their exemptions according to article 119 of Iran’s labor law passed on 19
January 2003 available at http://www.mcls.gov.ir/icm_content/media/law/634643017437412500.pdf
8
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempted from articles 51, 56 and 58 of the labor law
9
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are also exempted from articles 31 and 32 of the labor law
10
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are also exempted from articles 81 and 82 of the labor law
1