Basra governorate approves salary funding for 13,000 staff positions

BASRA, Iraq — The Basra governorate said the Iraqi Ministry of Finance has approved funding of more than 60 billion Iraqi dinars to cover the salaries of 13,000 staff positions in the province, following a request previously submitted by the local council. The governorate published the Ministry of Finance's official letter backing the decision. The funds will be allocated to the wages of contract employees and to the state's retirement contribution share. The governorate also announced that daily-wage and contract workers will be converted into permanent staff positions under next year's budget, in line with a decision issued last month. Officials described the funding approval as a concrete step toward addressing the shortage of contract personnel in the province.