E/CN.4/2005/85/Add.2 page 9 19. Following the arrival of the Taliban regime in 1994, a new outflow of Afghans sought safety and work in Iran in the period 1994-2001, though these were not granted refugee status. As a result, all non-official movement across the border during those years was considered illegal labour migration. 20. The status of Afghans is seen as having changed profoundly since the fall of the Taliban. The Iranian authorities believe that despite instability in Afghanistan, refugees no longer fear persecution and therefore they should not enjoy the vast financial and social support they have received as refugees. Accordingly, their presence is re-emerging as an important issue on the domestic political agenda. There is significant unemployment in the country, and there have been calls for an accelerated return of Afghans to their country and stricter enforcement of the laws governing their access to work and public services. 21. Many refugees/migrants informed the Special Rapporteur that the Iranian authorities are increasingly “encouraging” refugees to leave the country. The benefits they used to enjoy are being continually cut by the Government. 22. By mid-2003, all Afghans residing in Iran were asked to re-register with the authorities. Those with refugee documents were obliged to hand in their refugee cards and received in return only temporary residence permits, with no time for staying or leaving specified. The number of registered Afghans at that time totalled 2.3 million. Since the 2003 re-registration, UNHCR has agreed that 1,450,000 Afghans were of concern to the Office and since then, more than 600,000 Afghans have returned home. The re-registration process entailed payment of a fee of roughly US$ 5 per person and was only available to Afghans who had already registered with the authorities in 2001. The procedure for obtaining or extending a residence permit is becoming increasingly cumbersome because it lacks transparency and requires the agreement of a number of official departments. The ID cards that are issued are valid for six months. 23. Afghan migrants are blamed by the Government of Iran for the 15 per cent unemployment rate. According to the Director of the Foreign Nationals Employment Department, the foreigners working illegally in Iran are mainly Afghans. However, they have been performing jobs that are unlikely to be filled by Iranian citizens, mainly on construction sites and in agriculture. There are no minimum wages for Afghan migrants and they are reportedly paid less than Iranian citizens without benefiting from social protection. 24. Restrictions on refugees’ access to employment were tightened so that all refugees except those with old work permits were classified as illegal workers and thereby subject to expulsion. A new policy of fining and imprisoning the employers of undocumented workers was also introduced, causing in some instances loss of jobs and more restricted access to social services. Many refugees were immediately fired from their jobs, and thereby also lost their homes and all entitlement to medical care. They had absolutely no access to State social security or any other safety net. Little or no compensation is paid when workers in the construction sector are killed or disabled in accidents. Informed reports have suggested that there has been an increased use of drugs to sustain long and hard working days as well as increased use of child labour in informal sectors. Iranian entrepreneurs will also be heavily penalized for employing illegal Afghan workers.