8,000 foreign workers enter Kurdistan Region annually

More than 43,000 foreign workers have entered the Kurdistan Region since 2007, said a Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs official on Sunday.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – More than 43,000 foreign workers have entered the Kurdistan Region since 2007, said a Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs official on Sunday.

The General Manager of the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Arif Hito, told Kurdistan24 that every year an average of 8,000 foreign workers enter the Kurdistan Region to work in different industries and business sectors.

He also mentioned that workers in the Kurdistan Region whose names are registered in the ministry have legal rights, and there is a law that guarantees them minimum wage.

“According to the law, no worker should receive less than IQD 285,000 (equal to $202) per month,” Hito said.

Additionally, the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani released a statement congratulating the workers of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Workers Syndicate (KWS) to mark the International Day of Workers.

He also stated that workers play a major role in building and developing a country. He stated that workers’ rights should not be violated, asking the KWS and other organizations in the Kurdistan Region to protect rights in private as well as public sectors.

President Barzani also praised the Kurdistan workers that continue to serve the Region and remain patient despite the financial crisis.

Moreover, the Kurdistan Regional Council of Ministers also released a statement congratulating Kurdistan workers and reassuring them that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and private sectors will work on upholding their rights.

 

Reporting by Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany