Street Children of Iran- Part 2
Iran and Its Labour Laws
Jan 27, 2009 Maryam Nayeb-Yazdi
Albeit there is a shortage of information available in Iran about child labour, the stories of hardship that surrounds the children cannot be erased.
South of Tehran is filled with poor, working class people. Many street children as young as five are seen traveling daily from south of the city to the north to perform monotonous jobs. Most commonly, they can be found cleaning car windows, shining shoes, and selling miscellaneous items such as gum, poems, and flowers.
In the provinces of Golestan, Khorassan, and Azarbajjan, many children suffer from eye problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Lack of Vitamin A, basic health care, and improper lighting conditions at work are just some of the factors contributing to poor health conditions.
The main issue surrounding child labour workers is that they are missing out on education in order to provide for their poverty stricken families. In many cases, the absence of education forces children to work tedious jobs without proper work plans and health care.
A recent UN report estimated more than one million Iranian children live below the poverty line. The number of street children who sell miscellaneous items to passing cars is approximately 20,000 to 30,000; although the numbers are believed to be far greater than what the statistics suggest. The sight of child street workers has become a common part of life for Iranians. The children, in a way, have become mere ornaments dispersed all around the smoggy and polluted metropolis.
Most recently, major cities have been preparing drafts to learn new ways to aid street children. With the exception of Shirin Ebadi's school and shelter facility, Darvazeh-Ghar, there is virtually nowhere for a labour child to go to for help. While the school provides education and an opportunity for children to engage in games and activities, the facility only accepts approximately 200 children at one time.
The new drafts that are being created are looking to establish long-term shelters and facilities for children to go to instead of being forced to work on the streets. In addition to building shelters, the draft also proposes financial assistance for families.
Even though the government seems to be stepping up and taking partial action to help the growing problem, there are still concerns that need to be addressed.
Social researcher, Madani states, "Articles 82 to 84 of the Labour Law have determined the legal age for working at 15 years and specified certain conditions for child labour including a ban on working overtime, working nightshift and involving in hazardous jobs. As per articles 188 and 196 of the same law, there is no ban against children working in households or small workshops with less than 10 workers. This obviously prepares the conditions for exploitation of children."
It is the loopholes in the law that has forced thousands of children to be abused daily, without receiving a glance of concern from the government. Putting a stop to this problem is not simple, but with the co-operation of government officials and non-profit organizations, the amounts of children being exploited in Iran can be minimized. According to Madani, NGOs should play a more important role in regards to child labour, since they are skilled at supporting the children and their families.
Additionally, Madani mentions that even though Iran has complied with the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, there has been no execution of the plan due to ineffectiveness and lack of cooperation from government bodies.
Despite the fact that Iran is progressing with taking the labour issue more seriously, major loopholes still exist within the government enforced regulations. Until these "cracks" in the law are mended, it seems that children like Ali will have no choice but to continue working emotionally and physically demanding jobs that rob them of their youth.
What do you think about this article?
More in Politics & Society
Latest Articles