Iran Faces Construction Crisis Amid Mass Deportation of Afghan Migrants
Saeed Lotfi, head of the Tehran Real Estate Consultants Union, has warned that Iran’s construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage due to the intensified deportation of Afghan migrants.
According to Lotfi, the mass departure of Afghan workers has led to a severe shortage of labor in Tehran’s construction sector, causing labor costs to rise by two to two-and-a-half times.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Lotfi noted that in some southern districts of the capital, residential buildings remain unoccupied due to the absence of Afghan migrant workers. He emphasized that Afghan migrants have played a crucial role in supplying affordable and skilled labor for Iran’s housing market.
He further stated that without these workers, housing projects have suffered disruptions and costs have significantly increased.
These remarks come amid a marked acceleration in the forced expulsion of Afghan migrants following the conclusion of a 12-day war between Iran and Israel. Iranian authorities officially refer to these individuals as “foreign nationals,” but harsh treatment of deportees has drawn widespread criticism on social media and in local and international media.
The growing pressure on Afghan migrants in Iran is causing not only humanitarian and social concerns but also serious economic disruptions. Given the essential role Afghan laborers play in various sectors—especially construction—intensifying such policies could lead to further crises for the host society.
