Basra sends contract employee files to Iraq's Finance Ministry

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A member of Iraq's parliament from the State of National Alliance bloc said the local government in Basra has forwarded its contract-to-permanent staff conversion files to the federal Finance Ministry. Lawmaker Ali Shaddad said the ministry received complete documentation for 13,000 contracted positions in the southern oil hub and is now reviewing the file. Shaddad added that the ministry is also handling 19,038 separate contract employee files and is working to finalize them and take the required administrative steps. He warned that duplicate registrations and reports of some individuals holding two positions at once have been flagged during the process. The lawmaker did not specify a timeline for the ministry's review or when the affected workers might be notified of decisions. No further details were immediately available on how duplicate entries would be resolved.