Child labor remains one of the most pressing social issues in Iran, with an estimated 1.6 to 2 million child laborers across the country. This figure, reported by Mohammad Mehdi Seyyed Naseri, a researcher of international children’s rights and a university lecturer, highlights the severity of the problem.
In Tehran alone, there are approximately 70,000 working children. The numbers are also alarmingly high in cities like Mashhad and Shiraz, where immigration plays a significant role, as well as in border provinces plagued by economic poverty and migration.
Gender Disparities and Vulnerabilities
While official statistics on the number of working girls in Iran are lacking, field investigations reveal a worrying trend: the number of girls engaged in labor, particularly in informal and street jobs, is rising. These girls face heightened risks of physical and psychological harm compared to their male counterparts. This gendered dimension underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions.
The Role of Immigration
In Tehran, 70% of working children are immigrants, with a significant portion coming from Afghanistan. This pattern is mirrored in other major cities. Many of these children, about 40% nationwide, are forced to abandon school to support their families. The lack of access to education perpetuates a cycle of poverty and vulnerability, stripping these children of opportunities for a better future.
Psychological and Social Impacts
The harsh realities of child labor take a toll on mental health. Working children are more prone to depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. They often experience lower self-esteem and heightened feelings of insecurity compared to their peers.
A 2021 study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice and Criminal Policy of Iran further revealed that working children are about 2.5 times more likely to engage in delinquent behavior as adults compared to their non-working peers. The study attributed this to factors such as poverty, lack of job skills, and exposure to violence during childhood. These conditions often push children into illegal activities like theft or trafficking, exacerbated by the absence of social support and rehabilitation programs.
Institutional Challenges and Civil Society Efforts
The Iranian Welfare Organization is officially tasked with addressing child labor, but its efforts are hindered by insufficient funding and structural inefficiencies. “Even if the Welfare Organization’s budget were increased a hundredfold, it still wouldn’t suffice,” Seyyed Naseri lamented. He also pointed out that despite the existence of three governmental institutions responsible for tackling child labor, systemic and policy weaknesses have rendered their efforts ineffective.
Civil society organizations have attempted to fill the gaps left by the government. However, in recent years, many children’s rights activists have faced arrests, lawsuits, and heavy sentences, further stifling efforts to address the crisis. Several prominent activists remain imprisoned or embroiled in legal battles, reflecting the restrictive environment for advocacy work in Iran.
Economic Realities and the Education Gap
Economic hardships force many families to rely on their children’s income for survival. The vice president of social emergency services at the Welfare Organization recently acknowledged that some families have no other means of livelihood apart from child labor.
In June 2024, the regime-affiliated Mehr News Agency reported that at least 3.2 million children in Iran are excluded from the education system. The Majlis Research Center’s findings estimate the number of working children at 1.6 to 2.1 million, alongside 3.5 million marginalized children and over 700,000 migrant and refugee children.