labour law does not apply.11 The provisions of Iranian labour law therefore still do not apply to
all workers.
Despite the lack of coverage for all workers, there is a mechanism included in the structure of the
Ministry of Labour that is tasked with receiving and reviewing complaints related to labour
standards.12 This mechanism creates committees, in accordance with Article 158 of the Labour
Law, to deal with complaints or disagreements between the employer and the workers. However
the committees are not independent13, the majority of its members are government affiliates and
the labor unions have a little influence with it.
It is difficult to assess the efficiency of the committees formed by this mechanism. There are
concerns of efficiency due to the limited number of committees compared to complaints. For
example, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Labour in the year 1397 (2018-2018), 604
committees have been formed to deal with 302,017 cases sent to this mechanism. 14 That means
an average of 500 files per committee. According to the same statistics, about 89% of these cases
have resulted in a decision. However, there is no verifiable information about the content of the
verdicts to evaluate the decisions reached.
Reports from the last few years describe a pattern of workers’ complaints generally, regarding
poor working conditions, exploitation and discrimination being disregarded. This has led to
public protests on working conditions.15
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has NOT been implemented.
11
Regulations on manpower employment, insurance and social security in free trade zones (approved by the government on May
29, 1994) <https://shenasname.ir/organs/sazman/azad/140-1390-03-22-11-13-39 >
12
The Labour Law, Chapter Nine, Articles 157 - 166
13
The committee has 3 members as follow: 1) A representative of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, 2) A
representative of the workers selected by the Coordination Center of the Islamic Labour Councils of the province, 3) A
representative of industry managers selected by the Association of Employers' Associations of the province.
14
Ministry of Labour, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://bit.ly/3qQkI61
15
See, for example: HRANA:< https://www.en-hrana.org/four-months-report-of-workers-conditions-in-iran >; RADIO
ZAMANEH:< https://en.radiozamaneh.com/29631/ >; RADIO ZAMANEH: <https://en.radiozamaneh.com/28616/ >
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