Top graduates rally in Erbil for public sector employment

ERBIL — A group of top graduates from universities and institutions across the Kurdistan region rallied in front of the Council of Ministers in Erbil on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, demanding employment opportunities. However, many others were prevented from joining them as security forces blocked their entry into the city.

There are currently 12,000 graduates who completed their studies between 2018 and 2024 and have yet to be appointed to any positions.

On Oct. 19, 2019, the Kurdistan Regional Government decided to appoint the top three graduates from public universities for the 2015-2016 academic year. This decision was extended on December 1, 2021, to include the top three graduates from public colleges and institutes for the 2016-2017 academic year.

This year, on April 25, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced the decision to appoint all top three graduates from each institution in public sector roles. On Aug. 29, 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research submitted the names of these graduates to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

One of the graduates at the protest in Erbil told 964media, “Every year, they promise us employment, but nothing has been done so far.” Another graduate from Duhok said, “Not only have we not been appointed, but we are also not even given opportunities to work as educators.”

During their demonstration, the graduates chanted in front of the Council of Ministers, “Rights, rights, our right is to be employed.”

Meanwhile, other graduates, including the top three from universities and institutes in Sulaymaniyah, Koya, Ranya, and Dukan, were stopped by security forces at two checkpoints and prevented from entering Erbil to join the protest.

Shwan Ziad, one of the graduates turned back at a checkpoint, told 964media, “After being blocked, we returned to Koya and gathered in front of the university there, demanding our right to employment.” He added, “Most of us graduated in the academic years 2017-2018. We are demanding employment opportunities that are rightfully ours.”