The Federal Court has begun reviewing a case involving delayed salary payments to public employees in Erbil and other cities of the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is pressing for a final ruling to force Baghdad to send these salaries on time.
The hearing follows growing frustration from KRG officials over continued delays. The KRG filed two formal complaints, demanding a clear court order. These complaints ask the court to stop linking public sector salaries to political issues between Erbil and Baghdad.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has strongly condemned Baghdad’s actions. He said the central government uses public workers’ income as a political weapon. He called this move a direct violation of the country’s constitution.
Speaking in a recent interview, Prime Minister Barzani emphasized that people’s livelihoods should never become tools in political games. He stressed that the delay of three months in salary payments, with May’s wages only recently released, harmed many families.
Barzani also accused the Ministry of Finance of interfering in the region’s budget planning. He argued that financial matters for the Kurdistan Region must be handled through a clear constitutional framework.
He added that the only fair and lasting solution lies in reaching a constitutional agreement within the next federal budget law. This would ensure timely salary distribution without outside interference.
The court’s decision may shape future financial relations between Erbil and Baghdad. Many hope the ruling will bring stability and prevent further politicization of public servants’ pay.