Labor Minister calls on firms to hire Iraqis over foreigners
Iraq's Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi urged recruitment firms on Monday to prioritize Iraqi workers and reduce reliance on foreign labor.
During a meeting with company representatives, al-Asadi pressed firms to invest in local talent—particularly in oil, electricity, and investment sectors—citing their capacity to stimulate domestic job growth, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
He noted that despite their active role in the labor market, many companies still favor foreign hires over qualified Iraqi candidates.
Al-Asadi pledged support for firms committed to shifting their hiring strategies, affirming the ministry's readiness to streamline legal procedures for those generating local employment.
The discussion also addressed licensing delays, excessive work permit fees, and restrictive residency rules for foreign employees, with al-Asadi directing relevant departments to review these challenges and draft legal amendments.
He concluded by reaffirming the ministry's support for capable, outcome-focused firms, stressing that their success must directly benefit the Iraqi labor market.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
5 hours ago
- Iraqi News
US dollar exchange rate remains stable in Baghdad, declines in Erbil
Baghdad ( – The exchange rate for the US dollar compared to the Iraqi dinar remained stable on Monday in Baghdad and slightly declined in the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Erbil. The US dollar exchange rate remained stable in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya stock exchanges, reaching 1,410 Iraqi dinars throughout the day. The exchange rate in currency exchange shops in Baghdad ranged between 1,420 dinars and 1,400 dinars, Shafaq News reported. In Erbil, the US dollar exchange rate slightly declined, fluctuating between 1,408 and 1,407 Iraqi dinars. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) said in February 2023 that it has begun using the new US dollar exchange rate of 1,300 dinars to every US dollar. The previous official exchange rate was 1,450 dinars to one US dollar, which was being exchanged in the parallel market at a rate of 1,550 dinars. While the official exchange rate was 1,450 dinars per dollar in January 2023, the US currency was being exchanged at 1,610 dinars during the same month in the parallel market in Iraq. This variation represented a more than 10 percent difference in exchange rates.
Iraq Business
6 hours ago
- Iraq Business
PM Emphasises Citizen-Centric Design for New Cities
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has underscored the importance of ensuring that new residential cities meet the needs of citizens, during a site visit to the under-construction Al-Jawahiri City (pictured), west of Baghdad. The Prime Minister inspected the project, launched in December 2023, as part of his government's housing initiative. He reviewed implementation progress, met with project workers, and issued directives to overcome logistical obstacles, praising the efforts of the New Cities Authority and the Ministry of Construction for facilitating work. Al-Sudani stated that the strategy to build integrated residential cities follows detailed analysis of Iraq's housing crisis, particularly addressing the needs of middle-income citizens, with a designated portion of housing allocated for low-income groups. Key remarks by the Prime Minister included: Comprehensive services-commercial, economic, and public-will be integrated into all new cities. The housing model is designed to be simple, accessible, and affordable in terms of layout, pricing, and instalment plans. Past housing projects have faced issues in securing land and coordination across ministries regarding ownership. Ministries and local governments are instructed to prepare unified service plans for electricity, telecoms, roads, and national utility networks. Emphasis was placed on adhering to approved technical specifications and urban planning standards. The implementing company must expedite progress and adopt advanced construction technologies. Environmental requirements and green space allocations must be respected. Residential units must be designed with accessibility in mind and conform to smart city standards, in line with a modern and forward-looking vision. Al-Jawahiri City is the first of several new planned urban developments aimed at alleviating the country's long-standing housing shortage. (Source: PMO) Tags: Al-Jawahiri Residential City, Baghdad, cg, construction, featured, Housing, Infrastructure, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, new cities, New Cities Authority, real estate, urban planning
Iraq Business
6 hours ago
- Iraq Business
Iraq sees Surge in Internet Penetration
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Communications has announced internet penetration reaching 82.9 percent of the population by the end of 2024, up from just 44.3 percent in 2019, according to official data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Key components of the Ministry's strategy include the rapid expansion of the FTTH (Fibre to the Home) network across Baghdad and other provinces, development of digital infrastructure, and the promotion of a competitive and supportive environment among internet service providers. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to implementing further developmental initiatives under the Minister's supervision, with continued collaboration between the public and private sectors to reinforce Iraq's modern digital foundation. (Source: Ministry of Communications)
