The office of fundamental studies at parliament’s research center, in a report, focused on the need for regulating street vendors and defining a code of conduct for organizations and departments dealing with the issue, three months after the incident in which a street vendor was fatally injured by municipal contractors.
The report suggests that “without a well-defined set of rules and regulations to protect the street vendors’ social and individual rights, it is illegal for municipal agents to violently confront the hawkers, confiscate their wares or impose fines on them.” In light of the above facts, the report calls for a comprehensive study of the issue by relevant government and non-government organizations and the implementation of regulations to provide legal means of livelihood for the peddlers, ILNA reported.
Highlights
The report, while stating that the action was illegal and the perpetrators must face penalty according to the law, highlighted the following: firstly, clause (1) of Article 55 of Iran’s municipal law clearly states that only municipalities are responsible for the eviction of hawkers from streets and public places, therefore assigning this responsibility to municipal contractors is not permissible; secondly, their responsibility is limited to issuing eviction notices and warnings, therefore use of violence is unwarranted, and finally any violation of an individuals’ dignity, life, property, rights, residence and occupation is against Article 22 of the Iranian constitution.
The report however notes that street vendors must pay heed to and cooperate with municipal officials. In addition, it urged companies and institutions to offer jobs to the unemployed and called for concerned organizations to take up the issue.
The loud cries of street vendors trying to purchase second hand items from households is also a nuisance for residents, the report further said and that “this too is primarily a shortcoming on part of municipal officials for failing to regulate street vendors in order to prevent disturbances.” It suggests development of a system whereby residents could dial a number to sell second hand items on their doorsteps.
