Iraqi Kurdish civil servants face unpaid salaries for several months

For the past three months, Iraqi Kurdish civil servants have not received their salaries. This represents at least one-fifth of the population. The cause: a political conflict between the Kurdish autonomous government and the federal state of Baghdad.

Iraqi Kurdistan has long accused Baghdad of not sending the funds needed to pay civil servants. (Illustrative image) © REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

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The Kurdish authorities say they have no money since their oil is sold by the Iraqi state. Iraq replies that it has sent the promised subsidies to the Kurdish autonomous region, money that would have disappeared. This would explain the unpaid salaries of civil servants.

Lawand and Salah have three children. This couple of civil servants, nurse and teacher, have not received their salary for three months: "There are many things that we no longer do for lack of money. We don't leave the city anymore, we don't have picnics, we don't go to restaurants, we don't order food at home, we can't buy new clothes or toys for our children," Salah explains.

If a social movement broke out, would they go and demonstrate? "I'll definitely participate in demonstrations if there are any," Lawand replies. Everyone wants to go and demonstrate! But first, we must think about the consequences. You know, to protest here is to risk losing your job in the public service. Worse: it is risking prison.

»

Extremely rare in Kurdistan, very localized strikes were held this week in the region, reports our correspondent in Erbil, Theo Renaudon. Already on 5 September, thousands of demonstrators gathered in the city of Dohuk, waving Iraqi Kurdistan flags to denounce these unpaid wages.

Iraqi Kurdistan deprived of oil-related resources

Iraqi Kurdistan has long accused Baghdad of not sending the funds needed to pay civil servants. Until recently, the region had independent financing to partially pay salaries thanks to its oil exports, but since the end of March it has been deprived of this resource due to a dispute with Turkey and Baghdad.

In principle, Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad have agreed that Kurdish oil sales will henceforth go through the federal authorities. In exchange for which 12.6% of the federal budget is allocated to Iraqi Kurdistan. If the government released on September 3 an envelope of 500 billion dinars - about 380 million dollars - for salaries in the region, it would take almost double each month, according to Erbil.

A large number of people protested in Duhok today against what they called Baghdad's failure to disburse salaries and called for the protection of the Kurdistan Region's structure. The demonstration was organized by KDP-led groups.

We previously reported that public school... pic.twitter.com/nLWv4kj5VO

— Kurdistan Watch (@KurdistanWatch) September 5, 2023

(

and with AFP)

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  • Iraq
  • Employment and Labour
  • Kurds