Media, teachers detained then released
Sulaymaniyah public sector employees strike on return from Newroz holidays
SULAYMANIYAH — Educators across Sulaymaniyah, Raparin, Garmiyan, and Kirkuk continued protests on Monday demanding overdue salaries, with clashes erupting between demonstrators and security forces.
The Kurdistan Regional Government has struggled to meet public sector payroll obligations for over 15 months, disbursing only 10 salaries during that period. As of Monday, it had been 53 days since the last wages were distributed.
Sulaymaniyah protests began on the city’s northern edge before demonstrators attempted to reach the home of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Bafel Talabani. Security forces blocked the road, leading to clashes and the detention of 11 teachers in Sulaymaniyah city and six in surrounding districts, according to Dilshad Mirani of a teacher advocacy committee.
Approximately 30 Sulaymaniyah schools have declared a class boycott until after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of Ramadan. A source from Sulaymaniyah’s General Directorate of Education, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the boycotts, attributing them to the lack of salary disbursements.
“We hope that if salaries are paid after Eid, schools on strike will resume classes,” the source said. “However, if the salary situation remains the same, we anticipate a majority of schools will join the strike.”
A scene of teachers' protest in Sulaymaniyah. Photo: 964media
Similar demonstrations unfolded in Raparin, where a large group of teachers assembled before being surrounded by security forces. Faculty members of Raparin University also protested, demanding salary payments, student stipends, and the revocation of the mandatory MyAccount digital platform.
A teacher from Kalar, who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed to 964media that three colleagues were arrested at their homes early Monday based on information that they planned to participate in protests in Sulaymaniyah.
Meanwhile, in Kirkuk, Kurdish language teachers threatened legal action against the Iraqi Ministry of Education if wages are not paid within the week.
Security forces also impeded media coverage of the protests in Sulaymaniyah, confiscating equipment from a 964media reporter, as well as journalists with several outlets, including Westga News, NRT, and Apora News. Local media reported that the detained staff later released.
A view of protesting teachers in Ranya. Photo: 964media
The teacher-led protests coincides with a broader public-sector strike that began in Sulaymaniyah on Sunday, the first day back after the Newroz holiday. The boycott is affecting essential services like electricity, sanitation, healthcare, and traffic management, reflecting mounting discontent over chronic salary delays.
The strike also follows months of teacher boycotts that had only recently ended. Key departments participating include the West Sulaymaniyah Electricity Directorate, East Sulaymaniyah Municipality, tax offices, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Directorate of Roads and Bridges, social welfare services, and the Sulaymaniyah Traffic Department.
Many departments have reduced operating hours or implemented a rota to alternate between working and striking. Several health centers also have suspended operations entirely due to employee participation in the boycott.
The public sector walkout extends beyond Sulaymaniyah, with employees in Raparin’s local government, healthcare facilities, courts, and universities joining the movement. Similar actions have been reported in Koya, Chamchamal, Kalar, and across Garmiyan.
Healthcare workers, facing severe financial strain due to unpaid wages, have been particularly vocal. Retailers in the region also report a significant decline in consumer spending due to the lack of salary disbursements.
The KRG blames the financial crisis on the aftermath of the ISIS conflict and disputes with the federal government in Baghdad. However, public sector employees suspect corruption and mismanagement within the KRG itself also contribute to the problem.
The Federal Supreme Court mandated both the Iraqi and KRG Prime Ministers to centralize salary payments through national banks in February 2024. Disagreements over distribution mechanisms persist, however.
The KRG’s refusal to distribute partial salaries and the Iraqi government’s insistence on receiving full payroll information for security forces had further stalled February’s salary payments.
The KRG’s MyAccount digital payment initiative is another point of contention with the federal government insisting on utilizing government banks, while the KRG remains committed to its own platform.
With no immediate resolution in sight, the Kurdistan region braces for continued protests and strikes as public sector employees demand their overdue wages.