Kirkuk engineers union says BP sidelines local engineers in oil fields

KIRKUK, Iraq — The Kirkuk Engineers Union has criticized BP's recruitment and subcontracting practices in the city's oil fields, alleging that local engineers are being excluded from operations. In a statement, the union demanded that the company prioritize Kirkuk-based engineers and apply an 85 percent local workforce quota in its projects. The union said BP has directed subcontracts mainly to Baghdad-based firms, leaving engineering capacity in Kirkuk unused. Officials from the union argued that local engineers possess the technical competence to work to international standards and that employment in a city hosting major oil fields should be sourced locally. The statement also called on BP to operate transparently in its Kirkuk operations and share its employment plans with the local union. If the demands are not met, the union said it would escalate the matter to relevant official authorities. The union indicated that a consultation process between the parties could begin in the coming period. No further details were immediately available.