Contract workers in Diyala, contractors in Baghdad protest delayed payments

BAQUBA, Iraq — Around 7,000 contract workers in Diyala province gathered outside the provincial government building in Baquba to demand salaries that have gone unpaid for eight months, according to a Baghdad-based news agency. The protesters said they had taken up their posts in public departments and were working regular hours, but had not received wages for months, adding that the delays had made it difficult to support their families. They called on the relevant authorities to release the payments immediately and urged the provincial administration to set out a clear timeline. The demonstrators said they would continue peaceful protests until their dues are paid. Separately, a large number of contractors from various cities gathered in Baghdad to demand settlement of outstanding receivables owed to their firms for years. Participants said the backlog of payments needed to be resolved to address losses in the contracting sector and keep development projects moving. Both protests were held peacefully.