Kurdistan Region finance ministry grants permanent civil servant status to contract employees

ERBIL, Iraq — The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Finance and Economy said it has finalized the long-running case of contract employees, granting them full civil service and retirement rights. In a written statement, the ministry said an official circular signed by Minister Awat Janab Nuri entitles the affected personnel to all rights under the region's applicable laws. Under the directive, the employees will be placed on permanent contracts and classified as regular civil servants across all Kurdistan Regional Government institutions. The ministry said the personnel will receive equal legal, administrative and financial entitlements. The circular also extends to the employees the same retirement benefits afforded to other public servants under the Kurdistan Region's pension law. No further details on the number of employees covered or the implementation timeline were immediately available.