Masoud Bakhtiari, head of the Permanent Committee of the Food Industry Commission, has called for Afghan migrants in Iran to be included in the insurance system and given access to banking services.
Speaking to Iranian media, Bakhtiari emphasized the importance of integrating Afghan nationals into the workforce, particularly in light of Iran’s labor shortage.
“Why should we be different from the rest of the world in so many areas?” Bakhtiari said. “Why shouldn’t we benefit from migrant laborers to boost our country’s economy?” He underscored that Iran, as a country that receives significant numbers of migrants, should harness this labor force for economic gain.
Bakhtiari’s remarks come amid continued government efforts to deport Afghan migrants. Iranian authorities in various cities have instructed employers not to hire Afghan workers, aligning with policies that prioritize the removal of undocumented migrants.
The Iranian Interior Ministry has reiterated that the deportation of Afghan nationals is a key policy for the current year, aiming to expel at least 2 million Afghan migrants by the end of the Iranian calendar year (March 22, 2025).
