Iran Denies Official Skill Certificates to Foreign Nationals
The Technical and Vocational Training Organization (TVTO) in Iran has announced that it will no longer issue official skill certificates to foreign nationals. The decision, revealed by Hamidreza Mousavi, the Director-General of the TVTO for Razavi Khorasan province, is a strategic move to protect the state from potential legal liabilities regarding employment.
The ILO Liability Trap
The refusal to grant certification is rooted in the complex requirements of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Because TVTO skill certificates are governed by ILO standards and include specific ISCO codes, the issuance of a certificate carries significant legal weight.
According to Mousavi, providing these certificates implies a government-backed guarantee of employment for the certificate holder. This creates a major legal risk for the Iranian state:
If a foreign national holding an official certificate were to file a complaint with the ILO, the government could be legally obligated to provide them with employment.
Mousavi clarified that such an obligation is entirely incompatible with current national labour policies, as the state cannot guarantee job placements for non-citizens.
Impact on Migrant Workers
While the policy does not bar foreign residents from attending training or learning new trades, it denies them the official, job-linked documentation necessary to prove their expertise formally. This creates a significant barrier for migrant workers, particularly those from Afghanistan and Pakistan living in Mashhad and surrounding areas.
Without official certification, many foreign labourers face difficulties gaining recognition in essential sectors, including:
- Construction and contracting
- Mechanical and technical workshops
- Small-scale industrial employment
Legal Framework and Restrictions
The decision aligns with existing Iranian regulations. Under Article 120 of Iran's Labour Law, the employment of foreign nationals is strictly tied to specific work permits (parvaneh-e kar) and entry visas that grant explicit work authorization. Hiring individuals without the correct documentation remains a prohibited practice.
This move comes amid broader government efforts to restrict banking, economic, and vocational services for undocumented foreign residents, further complicating the economic landscape for non-citizens.
Training Landscape in Razavi Khorasan
The province of Razavi Khorasan maintains an extensive network of training facilities, though the vast majority of participants are Iranian citizens. The current infrastructure includes:
- Government Training Centers: 8 located in Mashhad and 45 across the province.
- Private Training Centers: Over 2,800 centers, with 1,600 operating in Mashhad.
- Training Volume: The province recorded nearly 30 million person-hours of skill training last year.
Currently, approximately 70 percent of all skill training in the region is facilitated through private institutions