Iraqi Education Ministry contract staff protest outside Finance Ministry in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Contract employees of Iraq's Ministry of Education gathered Saturday in front of the Finance Ministry building in the capital to demand permanent civil service appointments. The workers, employed under fixed-term contracts at the Education Ministry, called on authorities to allocate permanent positions for them in the 2026 national budget. Protesters urged officials to safeguard their rights and finalize the processing of their contract files, saying they had waited too long for a resolution. They carried signs and chanted demands directed at the Finance Ministry, which handles civil service staffing matters across government ministries. The demonstrators said they would continue their action until a clear decision is issued granting them permanent status. No immediate response from the Finance Ministry or Education Ministry was reported. The protest reflects ongoing tensions in Iraq over public-sector employment, where large numbers of contract workers have sought conversion to permanent civil service positions amid successive budget debates.