Kurdistan Region Salaries Unlikely Before Eid al-Adha Amid Dispute Over Baghdad Conditions

Peregraf — Public Employees and retirees in the Kurdistan Region are unlikely to receive their May salaries before Eid al-Adha due to the failure to complete the procedures required under the financial agreement between Erbil and Baghdad, according to an informed source in the Iraqi capital.

The source told Peregraf that the disbursement of salaries before Eid "depends on the implementation of procedures and conditions by the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Finance," adding that the required steps have not yet been completed.

Eid al-Adha is expected to begin on May 27.

KRG Finance Minister: Revenues Will Be Sent After May Ends

Earlier on Tuesday, Awat Sheikh Janab, the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Minister of Finance and Economy, said the KRG would send the May payroll list to Baghdad "in the coming days."

Regarding non-oil revenues, he stated: "Once May is over, it will become clear how much the revenue is, and we will send it."

His remarks came as Iraq's federal Ministry of Finance had already begun salary disbursement procedures for employees and retirees across the rest of Iraq ahead of Eid.

Baghdad Source: Conditions Not Implemented

An informed source in Baghdad told Peregraf that the Kurdistan Region has so far failed to fulfill the monthly procedures required under the agreement with the federal government.

"So far, none of the conditions and procedures have been implemented by the Region, and they are not expected to be completed within these few days," the source said.

"Therefore, paying the Region's salaries before Eid is impossible," the source added.

Required Conditions

Under the agreement between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government, several procedures must be completed each month before Baghdad releases salary payments for Kurdistan Region employees and retirees.

The requirements include:

• Sending the payroll list for the current month

• Sending the trial balance of expenses and revenues for the previous month

• Handing over 120 billion Iraqi dinars (IQD) in non-oil revenues

• Delivering all oil production to Baghdad except 50,000 barrels reserved for domestic consumption

The salary issue remains one of the most sensitive disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, amid continuing disagreements over oil exports, revenues, and budget obligations.