Politics

Kurdistan PM calls on ministers to implement key reform package

Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani on Wednesday chaired a videoconference with the government’s high-level committee on reform and called on his cabinet’s ministers to start implementing the changes to the government that was the centerpiece of his administration before the coronavirus took over the world's headlines.

Sangar Ali 2020/04/08 18:45

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ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani on Wednesday chaired a videoconference with the government’s high-level committee on reform and called on his cabinet’s ministers to start implementing the changes to the government that was the centerpiece of his administration before the coronavirus took over the world's headlines.

The Reform Law, which was proposed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), was approved by the Kurdistan Parliament on Jan. 16.

The purpose of the law is to bring fairness and accountability to the pay and pensions system for government employees and Peshmerga forces as well as multiple other sweeping changes that include eliminating so-called “ghost employees” and correctly assigning various staff grades according to merit.

During the meeting, Barzani and the committee, which is tasked with overseeing the new measures, discussed potential mechanisms for implementing the law.

“Prime Minister Barzani reiterated that the cabinet will introduce reforms encompassing all sectors and areas of life in the Kurdistan Region,” according to a KRG press release.

“He stressed that the main objective is to bring fairness and certainty to the public sector, protecting employees' rights and privileges.”

In the meeting, the committee approved reports from cabinet ministers about the best ways of implementing the planned reforms, including efforts to identify “ghost employees” and remove them from official salary and pension lists. The commonplace presence of such fake or intentionally miscategorized names, resulting in salaries being clandestinely collected by others, have for years been a chronic form of corruption in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

“Prime Minister Barzani subsequently instructed government ministries to take action as quickly as possible,” the statement added.

The KRG mission includes diversifying the economy, improving domestic governance, modernizing security forces, and building a strong partnership with the federal government of Iraq while simultaneously strengthening and expanding ties with countries around the world.

Editing by John J. Catherine