Protesters briefly shut Baghdad University over allowance decision

BAGHDAD — Employees holding a sit-in closed the gates of the University of Baghdad’s Jadriya campus for about 90 minutes on Monday, blocking students and faculty in protest over a decision to cut university service allowances, witnesses said.

The closure forced students to gather outside the campus and attempt to open the gates, before university administrators and security forces intervened. A 964media correspondent at the scene said some departments were still holding first-semester exams, while dozens of students turned back after being unable to enter.

The situation eased after the university presidency and security forces responsible for protecting the campus stepped in, and access was restored following pressure from students gathered outside, the correspondent said.

Earlier Monday, the Ministerial Council for the Economy said no salary items or allowances would be deducted, stressing that a previous decision does not apply retroactively.

The protest comes as education and higher education employees across several governorates have staged demonstrations and strikes in recent days over Cabinet Decision No. 40 of 2026, which regulates the payment of university service allowances. Protesters say the measures threaten benefits granted under the University Service Law, while the ministries of finance and higher education have said the decision applies only to non-full-time staff and does not affect allowances for technical and administrative employees under Article 14 of the law.

Service allowances are additional financial payments granted to public sector employees on top of their base salaries, intended to compensate for the nature, complexity, or conditions of their work. In Iraq, service allowances often vary by sector and are regulated by specific laws, such as the University Service Law, which provides extra compensation to academic, technical and administrative staff in higher education in recognition of teaching duties, research work, and specialized responsibilities.

Authorities have said the decision is part of broader efforts to regulate public spending, while employees and unions have continued to press for full payment of allowances and clearer implementation mechanisms.