PUK Bloc Launches Signature Campaign for Salary Nationalisation in Kurdistan Region

Reports 05:08 PM - 2024-10-29

"My Account" Project is Rejected in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja.

The rapporteur of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc in the Iraqi parliament has announced that over 102 representatives have signed a petition urging the Iraqi Prime Minister and the Federal Supreme Court to implement the court's ruling on the nationalisation of salaries for employees in the Kurdistan Region.

Karwan Yarwais, the rapporteur for the PUK bloc, stated: "We have launched a campaign to collect signatures, and so far, more than 102 representatives have signed a memorandum requesting that the Presidency of the Iraqi parliament contact the federal Prime Minister and the Federal Supreme Court to enforce the ruling regarding the nationalisation of salaries for employees in the Kurdistan Region." He emphasised that the first paragraph of the Federal Court's decision clearly stipulates that "settlements must only be made through federal government banks operating outside the Kurdistan Region."

Yarwais added, "This campaign responds to the demands of citizens and employees in the Kurdistan Region, aiming to uphold the rule of law and implement the Federal Supreme Court's decision, which is the highest judicial authority in Iraq and whose rulings are not subject to appeal or cassation."

He further explained, "There is a provision in the federal budget law that allows governorates to submit their payrolls to the federal government for disbursement," highlighting that establishing branches of federal banks in the Kurdistan Region's governorates is a crucial step towards nationalising salaries.

 

KRG Creates Barriers to Salary Nationalisation

Additionally, the President of the Diwan of Council of Ministers and two ministers have formally expressed their opposition to the Federal Supreme Court's decision to nationalise the salaries of the Kurdistan Region's employees in Iraqi government banks. Their aim appears to be the imposition of the Prime Minister's 'My Account' project on the employees, rather than adhering to the nationalisation decision.

The Kurdistan Region's Council of Ministers issued letter No. 5171 on 27th October 2024, signed by Omed Sabah, President of the Diwan of Council of Ministers, and addressed to the Ministry of Justice - Public Prosecution, as well as the Ministries of Interior and Finance. The letter stated that "any bank, official, or policeman who obstructs the implementation of the 'My Account' project will face punishment," emphasising that "the 'My Account' project is proceeding under the Prime Minister's directive."

In a related matter, another official letter from the Ministry of Finance, numbered 390 and dated 28th October 2024, signed by Awat Janab Nouri, the Minister of Finance, was sent to the banks (Malkandi, Twymalik, Tanjaro, Halabja, and Chamchamal). The letter demanded adherence to the 'My Account' project and stated: "Any manager or employee at the banks designated for the project who obstructs the work of 'My Account' employees will be held accountable."

The Ministry of Interior also issued letter No. 32015 on 29th October 2024, signed by Minister Reber Ahmed. The letter emphasised that any project other than the 'My Account' project is deemed unacceptable according to the decision of the Kurdistan Region's Council of Ministers.

 

Sulaymaniyah to File a Lawsuit Against KRG Prime Minister & 2 Ministers 

The Sulaymaniyah Governorate Administration is preparing to file a lawsuit with the Federal Supreme Court in Iraq against the KRG Prime Minister and the Ministers of Interior and Finance for obstructing the nationalisation of salaries for employees in government banks, in accordance with the Federal Court's decision.

Iraqi representatives have affirmed that nationalisation is mandatory for the federal government as per the Federal Supreme Court's ruling.

On February 21, 2024, the Iraqi Federal Court ordered Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to nationalise the salaries of civil servants, including those in the Kurdistan Region, in one of the Iraqi state-owned banks by the end of this year.

The measure would be effective in removing deceased individuals, duplicates, and fake names. However, Kurdistan Region's Prime Minister announced a banking system for disbursing the salaries of the Kurdistan Region's civil servants under the name of ‘My Account’.

‘My Account’ is entirely at odds with the Federal Court's order, and the banks within the system are private and lack guarantees; hence, in the event of bankruptcy, civil servants' salaries will be lost.

 

PUKMEDIA