Freedom of Association
Database 2024

Freedom of Association
Indicator
Freedom of Association
Countries
LRI 2024
heatmap

Iran

Freedom of Association Indicator

The Labour Rights Index 2024 (LRI 2024) is a de-jure index covering 145 economies and structured around the working lifespan of a worker. In total, 46 questions or evaluation criteria are scored across 10 indicators. The overall score is calculated by taking the average of each indicator, with 100 being the highest possible score. The Index uses a rating system, ranging from “Total Lack of Decent Work” to “Decent Work”. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions). The Index is based on national labour legislation, applicable on 1 January 2024.

Iran’s overall score is 67 out of 100. The overall score for Iran is greater than the regional average observed across Middle East and North Africa (64). Within the Middle East and North Africa region, the highest score is observed for Morocco (77).

Iran has not ratified either Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) or the Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949).

Labour Rights Index 2024

67/100

LRI Country Score

0/100

Freedom of Association Indicator

. %

Trade union density rate (%)

. %

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)

10

SDG indicator 8.8.2

5

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings

Question

Answer

Score

Legal Basis

More Info

Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?

No

0

§188 of the Iranian Labour Code, 1990; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

A,D

Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?

No

0

§140-141 & 188 of the Iranian Labour Code, 1990; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

A,D

Does the law provide for the right to strike?

No

0

§188 & 189 of the Iranian Labour Code, 1990; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

D

Does the law prohibit imposing of excessive sanctions against striking workers?

No

0

USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

D

Textual sources

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

B : CEACR

CEACR: ILO Committee of Experts on Application of Conventions and Recommendations (latest report)

C : ITUC

ITUC: ITUC Global Rights Index

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

LRI Country Score
The Labour Rights Index has 10 indicators and 46 sub-indicators. The LRI Country score averages 10 indicators and ranges between 0 and 100. The lowest and highest scorers are Nigeria (29/100) and Belgium/Greece (96/100). https://labourrightsindex.org/  

Freedom of Association Indicator
The Freedom of Association indicator is composed of 4 sub-indicators. Scoring is done through the binary method (0 or 1). The score ranges between 0-100. 

Trade union density rate (%)
The trade union density rate conveys the number of union members who are employees as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on trade union density, please check ILOSTAT. 

Collective bargaining coverage rate (%)
The collective bargaining coverage rate conveys the number of employees whose pay and/or conditions of employment are determined by one or more collective agreement(s) as a percentage of the total number of employees in the country. For updated statistics on collective bargaining coverage, please check ILOSTAT. 

SDG indicator 8.8.2
SDG indicator 8.8.2 measures national compliance with fundamental labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining or FACB). It ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible score (indicating higher levels of compliance with FACB rights) and 10 the worst (indicating lower levels of compliance with FACB rights). It is based on six ILO supervisory body textual sources and national legislation.
For an updated assessment on SDG indicator 8.8.2, please check ILOSTAT. 

ITUC Global Rights Index 2024 Ratings
The ITUC Global Rights Index depicts the world’s worst countries for workers by rating 148 countries on a scale from 1 to 5+ on the degree of respect for workers’ rights. Violations are recorded each year from April to March.  For a detailed description of ratings and methodology, please follow the link. 

Information

Source: §188 of the Iranian Labour Code, 1990; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

"Sec. 188. Any person subject to the Civil Service Act or to other special laws and regulations, and any worker in family workplaces where work is performed exclusively by the employer, his wife and his blood relatives in the first degree, are not subject to the provisions of this Code. Note. The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the fulfillment of other obligations explicitly prescribed in Chapters concerning the above cases. "

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The government did not effectively enforce all applicable labor laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike for workers. While labor unions were not explicitly forbidden by law, registration as a civil society organization was typically denied for independent labor unions."

Information

Source: §140-141 & 188 of the Iranian Labour Code, 1990; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

A : National Law

National Labour Legislation

"Sec. 188. Any person subject to the Civil Service Act or to other special laws and regulations, and any worker in family workplaces where work is performed exclusively by the employer, his wife and his blood relatives in the first degree, are not subject to the provisions of this Code. Note. The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the fulfillment of other obligations explicitly prescribed in Chapters concerning the above cases. "

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The government did not effectively enforce all applicable labor laws protecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right to strike for workers. While labor unions were not explicitly forbidden by law, registration as a civil society organization was typically denied for independent labor unions."

Information

Source: §188 & 189 of the Iranian Labour Code, 1990; USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The law required prior authorization for organizing and concluding collective agreements and for conducting strikes. In practice, the Ministry of Interior did not provide permits for conducting strikes, which were thus deemed illegal by authorities. Private-sector workers could conduct “peaceful” campaigns within the workplace. "

Information

Source: USDOS CRHRP 2023 (Iran)

D : USDOS

USDOS: US Department of States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

"The government severely restricted freedom of association and interfered in worker attempts to organize by arresting and jailing individuals for union activities (see section 2.b., Freedom of Association), and restricted workers’ right to collective bargaining. The law did not prohibit antiunion discrimination and did not require reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. Penalties for violations of laws protecting freedom of association and the right to strike were less than those under other laws involving denials of civil rights. Penalties were rarely applied against violators. Courts often labelled strikes and labor protests as security threats. ...... Independent trade unionists were subjected to arbitrary arrests, tortured, and if convicted, subjected to lengthy prison sentences."