KRG Council of Ministers Calls for Protection of Public Salaries, Approves New Support Measures

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers, during its weekly meeting on Wednesday, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that public employee salaries are paid without interruption over the next eight months, strongly rejecting what it described as unconstitutional financial pressure from the Iraqi government.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani emphasized that the KRG has met all its obligations under the budget agreement with Baghdad. He said that withholding salaries amounts to a political decision that imposes unjust sanctions and collective punishment on the people of the Kurdistan Region.

“The Iraqi Constitution guarantees equality for all citizens, and the Federal Supreme Court has ruled that salary earners in the Kurdistan Region must be treated equally with their counterparts in federal institutions,” Barzani said.

The Cabinet called on the Federal Council of Ministers to reconsider the Federal Ministry of Finance’s recent decision in light of the court’s ruling. It also resolved to send an official letter to the international community and foreign representatives outlining the constitutional, legal, and financial aspects of the salary issue, while urging support for a fair resolution.

The Council also discussed the status of contract employees across government institutions. Acknowledging the legitimacy of their demands, the Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Finance and Economy to begin consolidating data on all contract workers, including those on development budgets, daily wages, and income-based contracts, in preparation for improved regulation and support.

The Council of Ministers reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of civil servants, upholding constitutional principles, and securing fair treatment for all citizens of the Kurdistan Region.