Contract staff in Kalar demand permanent employment amid continued protests​

KALAR — Contracted employees rallied in front of the administrative offices in Kalar, the administrative center of Garmyan in Sulaymaniyah province, on Tuesday morning, demanding permanent employment status. This demonstration marks their second protest this week, highlighting ongoing concerns among the approximately 1,500 contracted workers in Garmyan. Many have served in various departments and directorates for over a decade.

“I’ve been a contracted employee for 11 years, and we want our rights and to be made permanent,” Berivan Jalal, a participant in the protest, told 964Media. She added, “If our demands are not met, we will continue to boycott our workplaces.”

Huda Mahmoud, another contracted employee, expressed her frustration alongside her child at the protest, emphasizing the inequality between contracted and permanent staff. “In terms of duties, we are equal to permanent employees, but in terms of rights, we are treated differently,” Mahmoud said. She pointed out the lack of maternity leave as a critical issue, describing it as an unjust situation.

The protesters have warned that without cooperation from department heads, maintaining their boycott would be challenging. This issue reflects a longstanding challenge in the Kurdistan Region, where a significant number of workers remain in precarious employment conditions. Representatives for these employees note that the region employs approximately 28,000 contracted workers.

These contracted employees earn between 300,000 to 700,000 dinars per month, varying by work level and department. Unlike their permanent counterparts, they lack several employment benefits, including standard permits, maternity leave, eligibility for government-allocated land, and opportunities for promotion.

In response to these issues, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Finance and Economy previously issued a directive stating that contracted employees with three years of service would transition to permanent status. However, this directive was subsequently suspended, creating further uncertainty.

The Minister of Finance and Economy, Awat Sheikh Janab, reaffirmed the KRG’s commitment to resolving these issues. The matter of permanently employing contracted workers has been forwarded to the Council of Ministers for final approval. Yet, progress is dependent on decisions from Baghdad, as the KRG awaits further directives from the central government.