In a move aimed at regulating the labor market and addressing the worsening unemployment crisis, the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced a package of stricter measures to control the recruitment of foreign workers. These measures are part of a comprehensive national strategy to link available job opportunities with data on officially registered unemployed individuals, thus giving absolute priority to the national workforce across all sectors.
The context of the crisis and the importance of organization
For years, Iraq has faced significant economic challenges that have negatively impacted employment rates. Thousands of graduates and young people struggle to find real jobs, while the local market is flooded with undocumented foreign workers. These measures are of paramount importance now, as the Iraqi government seeks to reduce dependence on foreign labor and stimulate the domestic economy, thereby keeping hard currency within the country instead of transferring it to foreign workers for wages.
New recruitment mechanism: Priority given to Iraqis
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Hassan Khawam, explained that the ministry has adopted a strict mechanism that no longer allows for the direct approval of workers to be brought in. Instead, the required skills are first presented to the database of the Department of Labor and Vocational Training. If the required skills are found among registered Iraqi youth, the employer is obligated to hire them immediately. Khawam emphasized that a foreign worker is only permitted if an Iraqi worker refuses the opportunity, and provided that the foreigner possesses proven experience and a certificate authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Application of labor law and employment ratios
The ministry emphasized its commitment to the legally mandated employment quotas, which require businesses to employ 80% local workers (i.e., four Iraqi workers) and only 20% foreign workers (one worker). To ensure compliance with these standards, the ministry has activated field inspection teams to pursue violators. Employers found in violation are referred to the competent labor court in accordance with Labor Law No. 37 of 2015. In some cases, penalties have included the closure of non-compliant businesses and the deportation of undocumented workers.
The challenge of tourist visas and illegal workers
Despite these efforts, the ministry revealed logistical difficulties in accurately counting the number of illegal workers. The main reason is the large number of foreigners entering the country on tourist visas and then infiltrating the labor market outside of official oversight. This constitutes a circumvention of existing laws and requires security and intelligence cooperation to control this phenomenon, which harms the national economy.
