Controversy Erupts Over Removal Of Makeup Artist Licenses In Iran
A decision by Iran’s ministry of labor to revoke licenses for many female makeup and beauty salons and workers has ignited a contentious debate in Iran.
Critics view it as an attempt to limit employment opportunities for women. According to a report by the Shargh newspaper, the Technical and Vocational Organization of the Ministry of Labor has taken the step, which has drawn widespread criticism.
The move is part of regime efforts to crack down on “un-Islamic” social behavior as more Iranian women unveil and appear in public in ordinary attire.
Makeup artists argue that the revocation of their licenses not only hinders new women from entering the field of nail and eyelash extensions and other cosmetic services, but also compels established professionals to operate their businesses in an underground, unregulated manner.
Previously, educational standards for the nail and eyelash extension industry had been accessible through the national portal of the Technical and Vocational Organization, allowing private educational institutions to offer courses, define curricula, charge tuition fees, and conduct training programs accordingly.
However, Shargh newspaper reports that these standards were abruptly removed from the national portal without prior notice. This development leaves graduates who completed their training courses in limbo, as they are no longer able to take the professional competency exams.
Shargh links this situation to a draft law known as the "chastity and hijab" bill, currently being discussed in parliament. It appears that the government is preemptively acting ahead of the bill's passage, with the Ministry of Labor quietly revoking the licenses of some female makeup artists.
On Friday, United Nations rights experts issued a statement calling Iran’s so-called hijab law an outright tool for gender discrimination.
“The draft law could be described as a form of gender apartheid, as authorities appear to be governing through systemic discrimination with the intention of suppressing women and girls into total submission,” the UN experts said. They emphasized that the proposed “Bill to Support the Family by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” and existing restrictions are “inherently discriminatory” and may amount to gender persecution.
In a related report, Etemad newspaper suggests that parliament is considering a "ban on nail and eyelash extensions for women" based on provisions in the chastity and hijab bill. The report also notes that parliament members have proposed various suggestions connected to this bill, including prohibiting nail and eyelash extensions for all female students, teachers, and women working in education, both in administrative and instructional roles.
Simin Mohammad Baqeri, the head of the Women's Care and Beauty Schools Association in Tehran, confirmed these restrictions to Shargh. She emphasized that the ban on eyelash and nail extensions alone affects approximately 15 subbranches of the industry.
This sudden government action is expected to lead to a significant number of women either becoming unemployed or resorting to underground employment, thereby relinquishing their legal rights in the job market.
Although there is no precise data on the number of female makeup artists in Iran, a report from 2015 indicated that around 20,000 beauty salons out of 21,000 were operating illegally in Tehran. However, in recent years, more than one-third of these establishments have closed due to stricter regulations, resulting in approximately 747 legal beauty salons remaining in Tehran.
This trend is not confined to Tehran; it is also observed in Mashhad. According to the Women's Care and Beauty Schools Association in Mashhad, prior to 2019, approximately 2,000 beauty salons were operating legally in the city. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, nearly 35% of these businesses have shuttered, leaving approximately 1,300 legal beauty salons in operation.