Country profile IRN
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 1990 | C138 & C182 | Iranian Labour Code – Articles 83 and 84 | [{"link_name":"Iranian Labour Code","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | The Iranian Labour Code (1990) prohibits the assignment of hazardous work to young workers under Article 83. Article 84 specifies that the minimum age for such work is 18. The responsibility for determining the types of hazardous work rests with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Article 86 establishes the High Council of Technical Safety, which is mandated to draft technical safety criteria and by-laws, including those related to hazardous work. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1990 | C138 & C182 | Iranian Labour Code – Articles 83 and 84 | [{"link_name":"Iranian Labour Code","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | The Iranian Labour Code (1990) sets 18 as the minimum legal age for hazardous work. Article 83 prohibits the assignment of any form of overtime, night work, or hard, hazardous, and dangerous tasks to workers aged 15–18 (referred to as "young workers"). Article 84 further mandates that for jobs whose nature or conditions are hazardous to health or morals, the minimum working age shall be 18. The determination of such jobs falls under the competence of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2002-10-11 | C182 | Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents (2002) - Article 3 | [{"link_name":"Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents (2002)","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/91493/IRN91493.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Article 3 of the Protection of Children and Adolescents Law (2002) criminalises any purchase, sale exploitation and employment of children for the purpose of committing illegal acts such as trafficking. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2002-10-11 | C182 | Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents (2002) - Article 2 | [{"link_name":"Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents (2002)","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/91493/IRN91493.pdf"}] | No | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Article 2 of the 2002 Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents prohibits any type of harassment of children and adolescents that causes them physicial, psychological or moral harm and endangers their physical or mental health. However, the law does not explicitly prohibit the use, procuring, or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution or pornography, and the Islamic Penal Code lacks direct references to the involvement of children in such acts. Therefore, while general protections exist, Iranian law does not fully meet the specific legal standard of C182 on this provision. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 1984 | C182 | Military Service Act (1984) - Article 3 | [{"link_name":"Military Service Act (1984)","source_link":"https://davoudabadi.ir/page/7465908"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Article 3 of Iran's Military Service Act, enacted in 1984, mandates compulsory military service for all male citizens starting at age 19. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2004 | C182 | Law on Combating Human Trafficking (2004) | [{"link_name":"Law on Combating Human Trafficking (2004)","source_link":"https://davoudabadi.ir/page/3652071/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%A7%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | The 2004 Law on Combating Human Trafficking of the Islamic Republic of Iran criminalizes trafficking in persons through means such as coercion, force, deception, abuse of power, or exploitation of a position of vulnerability. The law specifically prohibits trafficking for purposes including sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, organ removal, and forced marriage. . |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 1990 | C138 | Iranian Labour Code - Article 112 | [{"link_name":"Iranian Labour Code","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf"}] | 15 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Article 112 of the Iranian Labour Code defines apprentices as those undergoing vocational training either in training centres or under an apprenticeship agreement in workshops. It stipulates that the age of apprentices must be between 15 and 18 years, thereby establishing 15 as the minimum age for admission to apprenticeship. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | No information | C138 | No information | [{"link_name":"No information","source_link":"No information"}] | No information | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Our research did not identify any specific provision in Iran’s national legal framework that establishes a defined age for the completion of compulsory schooling |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1990 | C138 | Iranian Labour Code - Article 79 | [{"link_name":"Iranian Labour Code","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | Iranian Labour Law does not define or permit light work for children under the general minimum working age of 15. Article 79 prohibits employment of individuals under 15 years of age, and there is no provision allowing for light work for younger children. |
| Minimum age for light work | 1990 | C138 | Iranian Labour Code - Article 79 | [{"link_name":"Iranian Labour Code","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf"}] | N/A | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Iranian Labour Law does not explicitly define or permit light work for children under the general minimum working age of 15. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1990 | C138 | Iranian Labour Code - Articles 79-84 | [{"link_name":"Iranian Labour Code","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf"}] | 15 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Employment of individuals below the age of 15 is prohibited. Young workers (15–18 years) may be employed under specific conditions, such as health certification and restrictions on night work, overtime, and hazardous tasks. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 08-MAY-2002 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our research did not identify any plan or policy recently implemented in Iran to combat child labour. | [{"link_name":"No information","source_link":"No information"}] | No information | No information | No information |