TEHRAN — Around 85 percent of child laborers identified in Iran’s capital are Afghan nationals, a senior official said this week, underscoring the disproportionate burden borne by migrant families amid rising social challenges in the country.
Hossein Kaghazloo, Tehran’s deputy governor for political and social affairs, made the remarks Wednesday during a meeting of the city’s Social Council, which reviewed last year’s performance and outlined new initiatives to address a range of social issues, including addiction, begging, child labor, and divorce.
According to Tehran Times, Kaghazloo said children identified as laborers are taken to specialized training centers before being returned to their families. He did not specify the types of work the children were engaged in or the conditions under which they were found.
The deputy governor added that all relevant government agencies have been given a one-month deadline to submit actionable plans to the provincial government aimed at reducing the prevalence of child labor and other social vulnerabilities.
The meeting also focused on broader social welfare efforts. Officials reported that approximately 2,300 homeless individuals with substance use disorders received assistance in Tehran last year, and said services would be expanded in 2025. There was particular emphasis on enforcement of Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Law, with expanded support programs for women struggling with addiction.
Council members stressed the need for systematic oversight and swift implementation of new measures to confront Tehran’s deepening social problems.
Iran is home to one of the world’s largest populations of Afghan migrants and refugees, according to the United Nations. Over the past year, Iranian officials have repeatedly called for mass deportations of undocumented Afghans, citing economic and security concerns — a policy that has drawn criticism from humanitarian groups.
While no comprehensive national figures are available, Afghan children have long been overrepresented in Iran’s informal labor sector, often working in construction, street vending, or waste collection, many without access to education or legal protections.
