Despite its longstanding membership in ILO,the Islamic Republic of Iran still has not ratified two of ILO’s most crucialconventions: no. 87 and 98 - which grant workers the right to freedom ofassociation and collective bargaining respectively. This policy paper is a callfor collective action by the international community to secure freedom ofassociation for Iranian workers by putting pressure on Iran to finally ratifythese two conventions. Although Iran has ratified only 14 ILO conventions outof a total of 1901, the ratification of conventions 87 and 98 is the mostpressing issue. Iran’s domestic laws restrict free and independent association:according to clause four of chapter six in Iran’s current labor law, workplaceswith more than ten workers can only form three types of workers’ associations.All three types need to be approved by the Iranian government – who will thenalso supervise these organizations.

Freedom of association and collectivebargaining are crucial instruments to promote good terms and conditions ofwork.2 The inability to organize through labor unions has left the Iranianlabor force prone to exploitation and highly dependent on the Iraniangovernment. This makes it impossible to demand and secure better workconditions.