In a move to regulate the employment of foreign nationals, Iran has introduced a daily fine of 12 million rials (approximately 20 USD) for employers hiring unauthorized foreign workers.

The General Directorate of Employment of Foreign Nationals of the Ministry of Labor announced the new directive on Tuesday, targeting employers who utilize foreign labor without the requisite permits.

Iran has experienced a significant influx of foreign workers since the 1980s, attributed mainly to regional conflicts and economic instability in neighboring countries. Despite existing laws aimed at penalizing unlawful employment practices, these have proven insufficient in curbing the reliance on unauthorized foreign labor, thus failing to bolster the employment of domestic job seekers.

Currently, official estimates indicate that about three million foreign nationals are employed illegally within the country. Afghans make up the majority of the foreign workforce, with numbers potentially as high as 10 million, particularly following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. The surge has ignited debate and controversy, with some media and political figures suggesting that the increase is being facilitated by certain authorities, thereby posing a potential threat to national security.

The growing presence of Afghan nationals has also led to increased anti-Afghan sentiment across Iran, not least as domestic unemployment skyrockets. In the past year, nationalistic campaigns have gained momentum, advocating for the expulsion of all Afghan nationals from Iran.