The Iraq salary dispute has caused serious concern in the Kurdistan Region. On Sunday, Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani met in Erbil to address this growing crisis.
During their meeting, both leaders agreed to remove public sector salaries from political conflicts between Baghdad and Erbil. They stressed that salary payments must never become part of political arguments. They also emphasized fairness for all civil servants in the Kurdistan Region.
The Iraq salary dispute has worsened in recent months. Delays in salary payments left thousands of public workers without steady income. These delays mainly resulted from financial disagreements between the Kurdish and federal governments.
The Erbil meeting focused on solving these financial disputes. Both sides discussed ways to resolve budget transfer issues and restart stalled payments. Barzani and Mashhadani agreed that finding a long-term solution remains essential.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) accused Baghdad of using salaries to apply political pressure. KRG officials believe that the Iraq salary dispute reflects deeper issues tied to oil revenues and regional autonomy. They also claim Baghdad’s tactics hurt ordinary workers the most.
Meanwhile, Iraqi officials argue that the delays follow legal and financial procedures. They insist that salary payments require strict adherence to federal laws. They also pointed to unresolved legal cases over the Kurdish oil sector as part of the problem.
The Iraq salary dispute caused frustration among workers throughout Kurdistan. Many civil servants now face mounting debts and living costs. Protests erupted in several cities, with workers demanding their full salaries without further delays.
Prime Minister Barzani stressed the need for immediate solutions. He said civil servants should never suffer because of political rivalries. He also urged Baghdad to send the necessary funds without conditions.
Parliament Speaker Mashhadani echoed this sentiment. He called for fair treatment of Kurdistan’s workers and emphasized national unity. He also expressed hope for more meetings to keep the issue on track.
Leaders from both sides agreed to continue talks. They also promised to keep the Iraq salary dispute separate from other political conflicts. Both parties aim to build trust and ensure stable payments in the future.