An Iranian government official announced that the employment of foreign women as domestic workers in the homes of Iranian citizens is illegal and will result in fines and imprisonment. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) published statements from Ali Eghbali, the Director General of Foreign Employment at the Ministry of Labor, on Tuesday, January 1st, emphasizing that foreign women are not permitted to work in Iran. He stated: "Foreign women from the Philippines or other countries are not allowed to work, and if they are employed as domestic workers in the homes of women from other countries, the violators will be dealt with according to the law and referred to the judiciary." He did not provide any explanation regarding the employment status of foreign men in Iranian households. The latest statistics from the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, published last December, show that approximately 1.7 million foreign migrants are working in Iran, with 86% of them being Afghan migrants. In contrast, migrants from other countries, such as the Philippines, have a very small share of the Iranian labor market, with the Ministry of Labor stating that aside from migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey, migrants from other countries have collectively found fewer than 25,000 job positions in Iran. The Iranian government has also been engaged in the widespread expulsion of illegal foreign migrants from the country, with Afghan migrants making up the largest share. Additionally, heavy penalties have been imposed on employers of illegal foreign workers. According to Ali Eghbali, "the penalties for employing illegal foreign workers are five times the minimum wage per day, and in case of repetition, ten times the minimum wage, which can ultimately lead to imprisonment for 91 to 180 days." Recently, the Iranian government also issued a directive prohibiting the employment of foreign nationals in public and private government entities in Iran, although this ban does not include legal foreign nationals.
A Government Official: Women from Other Countries in Iran Are Not Allowed to Work
An Iranian official declared that foreign women are not allowed to work as domestic helpers in Iranian households, threatening fines and imprisonment for violators. This policy reflects Iran's strict regulations on foreign labor, particularly affecting women from countries like the Philippines. The situation highlights ongoing challenges faced by foreign migrants in Iran, especially Afghans.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An Iranian government official announced that foreign women are prohibited from working as domestic workers in Iranian households, with penalties for violators. This policy particularly impacts women from countries like the Philippines.
- Approximately 1.7 million foreign migrants work in Iran, predominantly from Afghanistan.
- Penalties for employing illegal foreign workers can lead to fines and imprisonment.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a complex relationship with foreign labor, largely influenced by its economic conditions and security concerns. The majority of foreign workers are from neighboring countries, particularly Afghanistan.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%