Long Shifts in Baghdad’s Private Sector Leave Young Workers Exhausted

Young workers in Baghdad are spending long hours in markets, commercial complexes and private companies, with shifts in some automotive, electronics, hotel, entertainment club and shopping center jobs stretching to 10-12 hours a day. The practice is intensifying fatigue, reducing productivity and accelerating job turnover in the city’s private sector. Some employees are said to earn between 12,000 and 15,000 dinars a day, a level that does not cover transportation, meals or basic living expenses. The pay and hours have left many workers under growing pressure despite the steady demand for labor. The situation has also raised concerns about compliance with Iraq’s Labor Law, which limits the daily working day to eight hours and the weekly total to 48 hours. The legal framework is meant to protect workers from excessive hours and unsafe conditions. Observers say strengthening the private sector requires more than wages alone. A secure and stable work environment is also needed to support retention, productivity and broader labor-market stability.