An Analysis of the Iranian Government’s Obligations Concerning the Right to Occupational Safety and Health in Light of ILO Convention No. 155 and Its Additional Protocol

Abstract

This study examines the obligations of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regard to the right to occupational safety and health within the framework of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 155 (1981) and its Additional Protocol adopted in 2002. The main objective of this research is to analyze the substantive provisions of these international instruments and to explore the commitments of the Iranian government to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for workers. Iran is regarded as one of the leading countries in the region in terms of developing domestic laws and regulations aimed at guaranteeing the right to occupational safety and health. On 12 Aban 1400 (corresponding to 3 November 2021), Iran ratified Convention No. 155 (1981) and its Additional Protocol (2002) through a single legislative act adopted by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, thereby formally acceding to these instruments. Employing a mixed-method approach (comparative, descriptive, and analytical) and relying on library-based sources, this article seeks to answer the following central question: What are the implementation challenges and normative gaps faced by the Iranian government in realizing the right to occupational safety and health? The findings indicate that although accession to this Convention has the potential to enhance domestic standards and promote alignment with international norms, significant challenges and normative gaps remain. These include the need to revise domestic legislation—particularly the Labour Law and the Civil Service Management Law—the allocation of adequate financial resources, shortages of specialized labour inspectors and supervisory authorities, and compliance with reporting obligations.