Iraq finance committee says 2026 budget includes contract workers

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The head of Iraq’s parliamentary finance committee, Aziz al-Miyahi, said the 2026 budget includes provisions to convert contract employees into permanent staff. Al-Miyahi said the committee met Finance Minister Faleh al-Sari on Wednesday and submitted a written request to add daily wage workers and contract employees to the budget. He said the minister responded positively and the issue was included in the 2026 budget. According to al-Miyahi, the coverage includes all daily wage workers employed in ministries and provincial service departments. He said the plan also includes 315 contracts, Education Ministry contracts, food security contracts and contracts in other ministries, as well as 150,000 job grades. Al-Miyahi thanked the finance minister and said follow-up on the matter would continue with the government and the Council of Ministers for these groups.