Public employees on strike in South Kurdistan

In numerous places in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), teachers, health workers and labourers have gone on strike due to non-payment of salaries. On Sunday morning, employees from the education sector in Seyidsadik, the staff in the Şehîd Tofiq hospital in Derbendixan and teachers and workers in Kelar and Kifri declared that they refuse to work because they are not paid. Teachers and workers in Raperin and Qeladiz also joined the boycott. In Xaneqin, refuse collection workers have been on strike for two days. Roads are blocked in several places.

In Sulaymaniyah, employees of the municipality and the electricity supply as well as the management of the Ali Kemal hospital and the school administration are taking part in the strike, and teachers and employees of ministries in Halabja.

A government spokesperson had announced that public salaries would be paid on the 25th of each month. For the past two months, salaries have again not been paid. The government explains that there is no money. Many public employees point to the income from the oil trade and accuse the government of corruption.