Peregraf
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced today that talks with the Iraqi Finance Minister were "positive," paving the way for the distribution of October salaries. According to the KRG, salary payments will begin on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, once the necessary payroll supplements arrive. The KRG also assured that salaries for other pending months would be distributed as soon as possible.
A KRG delegation, including the Iraqi Finance Minister, visited Baghdad today to discuss resolving the salary and financial entitlements issue. Acknowledging the hardships faced by public sector employees, the KRG stated: "We thank the resistance of the public salaried employees of the Kurdistan Region and assure them that we will not give up their rights in any way."
The delay in salary distribution has significantly impacted more than 1.25 million public sector employees and pensioners across the Kurdistan Region, sparking unrest and financial strain. Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Garmian, and Raparin have seen widespread protests, with many teachers and workers boycotting in response to the delays.
The salary crisis stems from a mix of unresolved disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over budget allocations and inefficiencies in the KRG's payroll system. Despite a ruling by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court mandating Baghdad to release the KRG’s salary payments under specific conditions, public sector workers remain uncertain about when they will receive their wages.
The KRG delegation’s continued talks in Baghdad tomorrow are viewed as critical for resolving the impasse. However, with no definitive resolution yet, public frustration continues to grow, underlining the urgent need for concrete and sustained efforts to address the salary crisis.