Contract workers in Baghdad march to demand resolution of hiring files

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Around 317 contract workers held a march in Baghdad to demand that their personnel files be resolved, according to reports from the demonstration. The protest began on foot outside the Baghdad city building in Salhiya and continued to Shawaf Square in front of the Ministry of Planning. The marchers said they have been waiting for their rights for roughly a year and a half. They stated that their names did not appear on the Baghdad City Council's list of contract winners and asked to be added in place of those removed from the list. The group described the rally as their 50th action within that 18-month period and said the prolonged wait has caused fatigue. They stressed that their citizenship rights should not be delayed further. The demonstrators decided to move toward the gate of the Green Zone, which houses parliament and government headquarters, in order to deliver their demands. No immediate response from authorities was reported.