Iraq's electricity ministry orders review of management qualifications at state power firms

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has issued a ministerial order allowing the removal of personnel in administrative and technical posts at state-owned electricity companies whose qualifications and CVs do not match their job descriptions. The directive covers deputy directors general and branch managers and their deputies at distribution companies, power plant managers and their deputies at generation companies, and grid managers and their deputies at transmission companies, along with department heads at company headquarters and branches. Under the order, the competency of personnel slated to remain in their posts will be assessed through examinations and evaluations conducted by a special committee formed within each company. If no qualified alternative is available, company boards of directors have been authorized to vote to keep existing staff in place. Companies have also been granted the right to appeal in cases where information on diplomas, years of service and experience does not align with job descriptions. Appeals must be submitted no later than 10 days from the date the ministerial order was issued.