Recent official statistics have reported 1.5 million child laborers in the Islamic Republic of
Iran, while Iranian authorities have reportedly stated that the number exceeded three million11
and NGOs estimate the number to be closer to 7 million.12 The fact that children are
reportedly significantly less paid than adults13 may encourage the enrolment of children as
cheaper labour.
In its General Comment on Article 6 of the Convention on Economic Social and Cultural
Rights, the Committee stipulated that “States parties must take effective measures, in
particular legislative measures, to prohibit labour of children under the age of 16.” 14 The legal
and regulatory framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran does not consistently determine the
minimum age for employment and child labour is permitted in agriculture, domestic service
and some small businesses. There is no readily available information that might indicate that
the Government has engaged in steps to strengthen its legislation prohibiting child labour in
accordance with international standards.
B. The State party should ensure that the implementation of legislation pertaining
to child labour is effectively monitored and enforced, including through labour
inspections in agriculture and the informal sector, ensuring that employers
exploiting child labour are held accountable and that victims of child labour are
rehabilitated and are ensured access to education
In June 2020 the Iranian Guardian Council passed a 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 situation of “extreme
danger” from abuse, exploitation, or being out of school.15 16 There is, as of now, no available
information regarding the number of State Welfare Organization’s investigations mandated
under the 2020 law.
Despite the existence of labour inspectors exercising monitoring functions pursuant to the
Labour Code and the International Labour Organization Convention 182, 17 18 private
companies have reportedly been escaping governmental scrutiny, notably waste disposal
11
Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/thousands-of-children-forced-to-work-beg-in-the-streets-in-iran/30142546.html
Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://iranhumanrights.org/2019/07/fact-sheet-children-in-iran-are-unprotected-fromabuse-and-severe-rights-violations/
13
CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC%2fC%2fIRN%2fCO%2f34&Lang=en
14
General Comment No.18 on Article 6 of the Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, E/C.12/GC/186
http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=4slQ6QSmlBEDzFEovLCuW1a0Szab0oXTdImnsJZZVQfUK
xXVisd7Dae%2FCu%2B13J25Nha7l9NlwYZ%2FTmK57O%2FSr7TB2hbCAidyVu5x7XcqjNXn44LZ52C%2BIkX8AGQr
VyIc
15
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/iran-child-protection-law-positive-insufficient
16
The Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran Official Website, https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/legal_draft/state/1055680
17
CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4, para. 87, https://undocs.org/en/CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4
18
CRC review of the national report of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2016,
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16940&LangID=E
12
2