services informally employed by municipal authorities. 19 In 2016 the Committee on the
Rights of the Child raised serious concerns about “the large number of children employed
under hazardous conditions, such as garbage collection, brick kilns and industrial workshops,
without protective clothing and for very low pay”20 in spite of the existence of labour
inspectors. A number of NGOs reported children working in poor and hazardous conditions in
the Islamic Republic of Iran, notably in waste management and often employed by
municipality contractors or city hall staff.21 The Iran Labour News Agency has reported than
more than 120,000 children are hired to work at waste management facilities, including
recycling centres which are for the majority run by municipality contractors.22 Similar reports
indicated that juveniles indicated that juveniles between the ages of 12 and 15 have been hired
by companies contracted by the municipality of Tehran to collect recycling and garbage.23
The municipality of Tehran has denied any responsibility for hiring child labour in 2014.24
The fact that Iranian authorities may condone the employment of child workers may well
limit accountability for perpetrators and redress and rehabilitation for victims.
During its Universal Periodic Review in 2019, the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Iran stated that it established special inspection branches and criminal court branches to deal
with child abuse cases in the judiciary.25 Non-governmental organizations reportedly can
access a court and file complaints on behalf of a child 26 although penalties for employing
child workers have been reportedly considered insufficient to deter violations. 27 Additionally,
there is no readily available information that might indicate the existence of a mechanism
specifically enabling children employed illegally or working in illegal conditions to file
complaints.28
The State Welfare Organization and its Office of Social Harm Victims provide support to
children victims of illegal and forced labour, notably by overseeing rehabilitation centres and
shelters for children in Iran. In June 2020, the Director General of the Office of Social Harm
Victims reportedly announced that the State Welfare Organization, in partnership with the
Ministry of Cooperative, Labour and Social Welfare, will launch a plan, the “Family Based
Approach”, aimed at ‘improving the conditions’ for child workers. 29 Details regarding this
19
Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://www.iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Days-to-remember-low.pdf
CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC%2fC%2fIRN%2fCO%2f34&Lang=en
21
Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/rubbish-children-iran/28713558.html
22
Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/rubbish-children-iran/28713558.html
23
Child Labor in Municipality Contractors, Islamic Republic News Agency Published on 20 November 2014 http://
www.irna.ir/fa/News/81394069/
24
Head of Tehran Municipality inspection’s section: Municipality does not have a direct responsibility in death of Mr.
Cheraghi, Iranian Labor News Agency published on 19 November 2014 http://ilna.ir/news/news.cfm?id=225126
25
Islamic Republic of Iran response, Universal Periodic Review, 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/43/12/Add.1
26
Article 66 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (2015). However, NGOs are prohibited from attending court proceedings
they initiated involving crimes against decency. https://iranhrdc.org/amendments-to-the-islamic-republic-of-irans-code-ofcriminal-procedure-part-1/
27
U.S. State Department Human Rights Report 2019, Iran, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-humanrights-practices/iran/
28
Persia Educational Foundation, https://www.persia.education/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PEF_Irans-ChildrensReport.pdf
29
Behzisti News, http://en.behzisti.ir/news/18573/Family-Based-Approach-for-street-and-labor-children
20
3