Peregraf
The salary boycott in Sulaymaniyah is intensifying, with employees from the Traffic Directorate, Emergency Police, Tax and Real Estate offices, maternity hospitals, and other healthcare facilities refusing to work. Public sector workers are demanding payment for the past three months’ salaries, which remain unpaid.
In response to the crisis, a high-level Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation, led by Finance Minister Awat Sheikh Janab, arrived in Baghdad today to negotiate with Iraq’s Finance Ministry. The delegation aims to secure funds for the salaries of October, November, and December, while also addressing ongoing budget disputes.
The delay in October salaries has caused widespread discontent among public employees, particularly in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Garmian, and Raparin, where many teachers and workers have joined the boycotts. Despite nearly two months of waiting, the October payroll remains unpaid. The KRG’s Ministry of Finance recently stated: "We are waiting for the Iraqi Ministry of Finance to pay the October salary.”
On December 12, 2024, KRG officials detailed their negotiations with Baghdad during a press conference. They claimed most technical obstacles had been resolved, saying: "There is nothing left in the hands of Baghdad to use as an excuse for delaying salaries.”
The KRG has requested the transfer of 430 billion dinars from the Kurdistan Region’s project allocation to bolster its salary budget. On December 9, Baghdad reportedly approved the request, but the timeline for distributing October salaries remains unclear, leaving November and December payments also in question.
The delay has affected over 1.25 million public sector employees and pensioners in the Kurdistan Region, sparking unrest and financial strain. Ongoing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over budget allocations, coupled with inefficiencies in the KRG payroll system, have further complicated the crisis. Although Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court previously ruled that Baghdad must provide the KRG’s salary payments under specific conditions, public sector workers remain uncertain about when wages will be delivered.
The delegation’s discussions in Baghdad tomorrow are seen as crucial to resolving the crisis. However, with no clear resolution in sight, public frustration continues to mount, underscoring the urgent need for concrete action to address the salary impasse.