Sulaymaniyah Teachers Threaten to Conclude Academic Year Amid Ongoing Salary Dispute
Peregraf
Defense Committee of Disgruntled Teachers and Public Employees in the Kurdistan Region has issued a formal statement on February 15, 2025, declaring the continuation of their boycott of educational institutions and government offices. The committee demands the immediate disbursement of December 2024 salaries and the implementation of the Iraqi government's 'Tawteen' salary domiciliation program by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
In their statement, the committee emphasized that the era of unpaid labor has concluded and criticized the regional authorities for their perceived indifference and mismanagement. They assert that the December 2024 salaries have been misappropriated, similar to previous years, serving the interests of a select few rather than the public.
The committee has granted the authorities a final opportunity to address their demands, specifically:
1. Distribution of December 2024 Salaries: Immediate payment of outstanding December 2024 wages to teachers and public employees.
2. Implementation of Tawteen: Adoption of the Iraqi salary domiciliation program known as “Tawteen”, in other words, facilitating salary payments through federal banks such as Rashid and Rafidain, thereby ensuring transparency and reducing Kurdistan regional administrative control.
Failure to meet these demands will result in the termination of the current academic year, as the educators express unwillingness to operate under what they describe as an 'illegal authority.' The statement further criticizes the KRG for allegedly contravening Iraqi law and the constitution, as well as disregarding Federal Court decisions.
The committee unequivocally rejects the KRG's 'My Account' (Hazhmari Mn) system, expressing concerns over potential undue influence and control over their earnings. They also issue a stern warning against any attempts to intimidate or coerce educators into resuming their duties.
This development follows a series of protests and strikes by teachers and public sector workers in Sulaymaniyah. On January 25, 2025, the Protection Committee of Protesting Teachers announced a boycott of the education process due to persistent salary delays, demanding the distribution of December 2024 and January 2025 salaries before the month's end. Subsequently, on January 28, educators marched to the United Nations office in Sulaymaniyah, protesting the ongoing salary crisis and the lack of action on the Iraqi Federal Court's ruling regarding the Tawteen program.
The situation escalated when, on February 11, after a 15-day hunger strike, 13 teachers and employees suspended their protest at the behest of demonstrators and public pressure. In solidarity, businesses in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja temporarily closed, with traders and shopkeepers shutting their establishments for an hour in support of the educators' demands.
The ongoing salary crisis has underscored the financial and political tensions between the Iraqi Ministry of Finance and the KRG, with mutual accusations of failing to adhere to the Iraqi budget law. As of mid-February 2025, KRG employees, including teachers, have yet to receive their December 2024 salaries, leading to mounting frustration and uncertainty.
The Defense Committee's latest statement signifies a critical juncture in the dispute, with significant implications for the region's educational system and governance.