Iraq's Finance Ministry approves funding for 13,000 contract workers in Basra

BASRA, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Finance has approved funding for the salaries of 13,000 contract workers in Basra province, Deputy Governor Mahir Ibrahim al-Amari said. The decision was made in coordination between the Basra local administration and the finance ministry, following directives from Governor Asaad Abdulmajeed al-Aidani. The governorate completed the required procedures with the ministry with the support of lawmaker Ali Shaddad al-Muhenna, al-Amari said, adding that the minister issued the necessary approval. The 13,000 positions are part of Basra's allocation under Iraq's three-year federal budget law and have been distributed across more than 89 state departments, public institutions and oil companies. Aidani is expected to finalize the lists and forward them to the finance ministry to begin salary disbursements by the end of 2026. The move is intended to secure the financial rights of contract employees who had staged protests outside the governorate and provincial council in recent weeks over delays in resolving their employment status.