Sulaymaniyah electricity collection workers protest for permanent contracts

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — Meter collection workers employed by the Sulaymaniyah provincial electricity directorate gathered on Sunday in front of the city government building, renewing their demand to be moved from a daily wage system to permanent contractual status. The workers warned of further steps if their demands are not met. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Dilshad Ahmed said collection workers have been operating on daily wages for four years despite round-the-clock work. He noted that a significant share of Sulaymaniyah's revenue is generated through their collections, and that many of the workers hold university degrees that are not reflected in their current employment status. The workers' demands include ending the daily wage system and converting to formal contracts, assigning job titles based on academic qualifications, and opening official correspondence with federal authorities in Baghdad to safeguard the rights of service-sector staff across the Kurdistan Region. The group said it would resort to strikes, sit-ins and work stoppages if the demands remain unaddressed. According to the workers, around 650 collection personnel are employed across Sulaymaniyah, where they carry out continuous duties and contribute to the province's revenue.