Iraq plans raise in caregiver stipend, retroactive to September

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has signaled a government intent to raise the monthly "muayyen metfereg" stipend paid to people caring for family members with disabilities, according to a ministry statement. The head of the ministry's Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities and Special Needs, Zikra Abdurrahim, said the proposed regulation would increase the monthly payment from 170,000 dinars to 250,000 dinars. Abdurrahim said the raise would take effect retroactively from September if approved, and that any difference between the old and new amounts for that period would be paid to beneficiaries separately before the first disbursement at the new rate. The ministry official noted that the regulation still requires formal approvals, particularly from the Ministry of Finance. Once the official decision is issued, the method for calculating the back payments, the payment date and further details will be made public, the ministry said. The ministry urged beneficiaries to rely only on statements from the ministry and the authority for information on the matter.