KRG makes changes to austerity measures as civil servants protest across Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Sunday promised changes to austerity measures which had been adopted since 2015 following wide-spread protests by civil servants across the Kurdistan Region.

In a statement following a meeting with the Council of Ministers, the KRG explained it was planning to make changes to the salaries of public employees next week, adding it had assigned relevant authorities to take the necessary steps.

Civil servants across the Kurdistan Region took to the streets on Sunday in protest, calling for an end to austerity measures and salary delays.

Due to the financial crisis and the Iraqi government’s cutting of Kurdistan’s share of the national budget, the KRG introduced a salary-saving system in 2016 which slashed up to 40 percent of Kurdish government employees.  

The change resulted in widespread protest among the Region’s civil servants toward both the KRG and the Iraqi government.

“If Baghdad continues sending 317 billion IQD on a monthly basis, the KRG, with oil and local revenues added to the overall generated income, can make changes in the saving system in a way that serves the interests of the civil servants in the Kurdistan Region,” the KRG statement read.

According to the statement, the Council of Ministers had requested the Ministry of Finance to prepare a new list of civil servants’ salaries to be endorsed by next week based on the changes.

The KRG also promised greater transparency, noting that it would “publish the local and oil revenues alongside the money Baghdad sends as well as the US’ financial assistance for the Peshmerga forces where the distribution mechanism is explained.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany