PUK Bloc Urges Iraqi PM to Ensure Payment of Salaries for Kurdistan Region Employees

Kurdistan 07:38 PM - 2024-12-04

Iraqi parliament's Wednesday session in the presence of Iraqi PM.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc has called on Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Iraqi Prime Minister, to ensure the payment of salaries for the Kurdistan Region employees for the final three months of this year.

Karwan Yarwais, a member of the PUK bloc in the Iraqi parliament, stated  to PUKMEDIA: "The PUK bloc, through its leader, called on the Iraqi PM during the parliamentary session for the payment of salaries for the Kurdistan Region's employees, just as they are paid in Iraq."

Yarwais further explained that "the PUK bloc requested clarification from PM al-Sudani during the session regarding the delay in paying the Region's employees," emphasising that "the employees in the Region are entitled to receive their salaries on the set dates every month, just like federal government employees, and their financial rights should not be affected by political disputes." He also highlighted that "the Federal Supreme Court has issued a ruling on this matter."

 

Iraqi PM Blames KRG for Salary Delays in Kurdistan Region

For his part, the Iraqi PM has announced that the delay in the payment of salaries for employees in the Kurdistan Region is due to the failure to implement the articles and provisions of the Federal Budget Law, as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) failure to deliver non-oil revenues.

Dr. Bryar Rashid, a member of the PUK bloc in the Iraqi parliament, confirmed in a statement to PUKMEDIA: "During today's session, Wednesday, 4th December 2024, PM al-Sudani indicated that the delay in salary payments for the Region’s employees is a result of the KRG's failure to implement the Federal Budget Law’s articles, and its failure to deliver non-oil revenues, customs duties, and border checkpoints."

Dr. Rashid continued: "PM Al-Sudani explained to the members of the Iraqi parliament that currently only 700 billion dinars are available, while salaries require 950 billion dinars. We hope a solution can be reached to this issue by amending the budget law and resuming oil exports from the Region."

PM Al-Sudani's remarks came after the PUK bloc called on him for clarification on the reasons for the delay in salary payments for employees in the Kurdistan Region, while also demanding that salaries be paid without further delay.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers approved, during its regular meeting on Tuesday, 5th November 2024, a proposal to amend Article (12/Second/C) of the Triennial Budget Law No. 13 of 2023. The amendment stipulates that "Oil produced in the Region should immediately be delivered to the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) or the Federal Ministry of Oil, with the costs of production and transportation to be reimbursed by the Federal Ministry of Finance as advances, at a rate of 16 dollars per barrel."

It is also worth noting that the first reading of the amendment to the budget law has been completed, and it is expected that the second reading will take place next week, after being reviewed by the Finance Committee and subsequently voted on.



PUKMEDIA