Iran has invited the Taliban’s labour and social affairs minister to Tehran to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, including job creation, labour market access, vocational training and the management of migrant affairs.
Ali Reza Bigdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, extended the invitation during a meeting with Abdul Manan Omari, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the Taliban’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The ministry said the talks focused on developing bilateral cooperation and the legal deployment of Afghan workers to Iran. Omari reiterated a previous request for the regularisation of Afghan workers’ status in Iran and stressed the need for guarantees on workers’ rights and the fair payment of wages.
During the meeting, Bigdeli said cooperation with Afghanistan was “not only a humanitarian responsibility, but an urgent necessity for regional stability,” according to the Taliban statement. He also underscored the importance of creating employment opportunities for workers in both countries.
Iran has recently launched a plan to issue up to 200,000 work visas for Afghan nationals, amid a sharp shortage of low-cost labour following the large-scale departure of Afghan migrants. Iranian officials say the measure is intended to address labour gaps caused by the exodus.
