Iranian Officials Raise Concerns over Child Labor “Problem”

At least 120,000 Iranian children have left the education system and are currently working, an official said, but the phenomenon of child labor in the country is believed to be much more widespread.

Mohammed Reza Heydarhai, head of the Social Victims Affairs Office of the Welfare Organization, said on April 17 that approximately 14,500 street children were identified over the last Persian year ending in March. He said 10,500 of them received assistance from the Welfare Organization. 

"Taking these children won’t solve their problem. The issue of child labor and street children is a problem that must be solved from the root," he said. 

According to children’s rights activists, between 3 and 7 million Iranian children are working. 

The head of the Social Disadvantaged Affairs Office raised concerns over the increasing number of children working as rubbish pickers.