Clarification from the Ministry of Finance and Economy

In response to the request by Iraq's federal Ministry of Finance, the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Ministry of Finance and Economy forwarded document reference 2147/4/7 on 5 March 2024. This communication requested funds amounting to IQD 949,813,146,170 to cover the salaries of the KRG's public sector employees. However, the federal Ministry of Finance approved only IQD 560,219,000,000, fulfilling just 59% of the requested sum. This decision leaves a shortfall of IQD 390 billion needed for one month's salaries, intensifying the financial strain on the region.

Moreover, the federal Ministry's correspondence indicates that no funds for March salaries will be disbursed to the Kurdistan Region until all regional employees undergo a verification process, aka (domiciliation), a condition unlikely to be met within such a constrained timeframe.

The KRG's Ministry of Finance and Economy asserts that the public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region must not be denied their financial entitlements. We urge the federal Ministry of Finance to avoid using impractical conditions as a basis for withholding the rightful dues of the Kurdistan Region. This matter should not be politicised, nor should unnecessary hurdles be placed in the way of disbursing March salaries to the citizens of the Kurdistan Region, as it is their legal and constitutional right.

Ministry of Finance and Economy, Kurdistan Region
12 March 2024