Many articles of Iran’s Labour Law emphasize the right to work without discrimination for all
citizens. Article 6 of the Labor Code deals with non-discrimination and notes that everyone is
equal before the law. Article 28 of the Constitution also obliges the government to create
employment for all without discrimination. Despite this, in various professions, including
judicial and governmental positions, gender and religious restrictions apply. For example,
women cannot stand as judges, or religious minorities cannot be hired in positions where Shiite
beliefs are required. Although Article 28 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to choose a
job, the inclusion of the condition that a person is only allowed to hold a position if it "is not
against Islam and the public interests and rights of others" allows for arbitrary interpretations of
the law and for restrictions to one’s right to work, especially for minorities.
There is a mechanism included in the structure of the Ministry of Labour that is tasked with
receiving and analyzing complaints related to labour standards. Despite its existence, this
mechanism is not known to be efficient. Reports from the last few years describe a pattern of
workers’ complaints regarding poor working conditions, exploitation and discrimination being
disregarded, leading to public displays of protest.9
In 2017, Khuzestan Province, where the majority of Arabs reside, had an unemployment rate of
11.7% for males and 28.5% for females.10 In the same year, Sistan and Baluchestan Province,
where the Balouch ethnic group reside, had the highest unemployment rate in males of 13.6%
and 14.8% for females. Lastly, Kurdistan province had an unemployment rate of 8.8% for males
and the highest unemployment rate in Iran for women, with 27.8%.11 Despite the fact that these
statistics are likely lower than the actual unemployment numbers due to the government skewing
data, this contrast in unemployment numbers between ethnic minority areas and the rest of the
country. 12
C. The Committee also urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to include information in its
next State party report on the progress achieved.
Iran hasn’t submitted another report to the ICESCR since its review on the implementation of the
Covenant in 2013.13
The state has not been able to combat unemployment efficiently, especially in minority areas
where unemployment rates are much higher than other parts of the country. Iran has also not
9
https://www.en-hrana.org/four-months-report-of-workers-conditions-in-iran and https://en.radiozamaneh.com/29631/ and
https://en.radiozamaneh.com/28616/
10
Source: Statistical Centre Iran, 2017
11
Information taken from Statistical Centre of Iran available in: https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/RightsDenied-Violations-against-ethnic-and-religious-minorities-in-Iran.pdf
12
For more, please see: Minority Rights Group, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rights-DeniedViolations-against-ethnic-and-religious-minorities-in-Iran.pdf
13
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/countries.aspx?CountryCode=IRN&Lang=EN
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