TEHRAN — An Iranian lawmaker has warned that citizens who hire undocumented Afghan migrants could face up to six months in prison, amid Tehran’s intensified efforts to crack down on illegal employment.
Hossein Ali Deligani, a member of parliament from Tehran and deputy head of the legislature’s Article 90 Commission, said that under Iranian labor law, employing foreign nationals without valid residency or work permits is a punishable offense.
“Employers who hire foreign nationals without a valid work permit, employ them outside the scope of their permit, or fail to report termination of employment to the Ministry of Labor, are subject to imprisonment ranging from 91 to 180 days,” Deligani said, according to Iranian media reports.
Iranian officials routinely refer to Afghan migrants as “foreign nationals” or “unauthorized foreign nationals.”
Deligani cited Articles 120 and 121 of Iran’s labor law, stressing that Afghan migrants are not legally allowed to work unless they possess a visa granting work rights and have secured the appropriate permits under Iranian regulations.
He criticized what he described as a growing practice of illegal employment across various businesses. “Employers, without fear of repercussions, exploit foreign labor solely to save on wage costs,” he said, adding that current fines and penalties are not strong enough deterrents, and that workplace inspections are insufficient.
Deligani also called on Iran’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs to be held accountable for the widespread employment of Afghan migrants without permits. He urged the ministry to provide a “clear response and concrete action” to the parliament on the issue.
The announcement comes as Iran has ramped up its forced deportation of Afghan migrants following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Human rights groups and Afghan migrants have reported widespread abuses during expulsions, including allegations of mistreatment, beatings, confiscation of money and property, and arbitrary detention.
Iran hosts one of the largest Afghan refugee populations in the world, with many facing precarious legal status and harsh conditions as regional tensions and economic pressures mount.
