Concluding observations Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
86(b)
Full recommendation:
Ensure that all forms of enterprises and workshops remain within the domain of labour regulations
and are systematically monitored and controlled by labour inspectors for potential violations of
the rights of child workers
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
The Iranian legislation prohibits employment of children younger than 15 years old2 and allows
the employment of juvenile or young workers above the age of 15 if they undergo frequent
medical exams conducted by the Ministry of Labor.3 Juvenile workers over the age of 15 are also
prohibited from being employed in hazardous professions or performing hard labour.4 Despite
these provisions, businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempt from certain legal
obligations5, such as maximum hour requirements,6 pay disability benefit for workplace injuries7
or mandatory regular medical testing for juvenile laborers.8 Such exemptions have been
considered by the Committee on the Rights of the Child as increasing the risk of economic
exploitation of children. 9 Additionally, Iranian child labour law does not cover domestic work
and permits children to work in agriculture and some small businesses from the age of 12.10 11 12
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 3 million13 and NGOs
1
CRC.19.1.S.1; CRC.32.1.S.1; CRC.32.1.S.1; CRC.32.2.S.1
CRC.19.1.P.1; CRC.19.1.P.3
CRC.19.1.O.3; CRC.19.1.O.4
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
Law on businesses with fewer than 10 employees and their exemptions according to article 191 of Iran’s labor law passed on 19
January 2003 available at http://www.mcls.gov.ir/icm_content/media/law/634643017437412500.pdf
6
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are exempted from articles 51, 56 and 58 of the labor law
7
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are also exempted from articles 31 and 32 of the labor law
8
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are also exempted from articles 81 and 82 of the labor law
9
CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC%2fC%2fIRN%2fCO%2f34&Lang=en
10
U.S. State Department Human Rights Report 2019, Iran, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rightspractices/iran/
11
Financial Tribune https://financialtribune.com/articles/people/44082/report-to-help-prevent-child-labor
12
See more: Civil society report to the CRC, 2016, Coalition Impact Iran,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCRC%2fNGO%2fIRN%2f19809
&Lang=en
13
Financial Tribune https://en.radiofarda.com/a/thousands-of-children-forced-to-work-beg-in-the-streets-in-iran/30142546.html
1