As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate the labour market and safeguard the financial rights of workers and jobseekers, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has introduced a series of measures aimed at expanding social security coverage, improving working conditions, and strengthening enforcement of labour laws to raise living standards across the workforce.
Over the past five years, the KRG has created around 160,000 job opportunities across various sectors. To prioritise local employment, a policy has been implemented requiring that 75% of workers in development projects be citizens of the Kurdistan Region. In parallel, the government has invested in skills development through vocational training and the Job Portal system, delivering 83 training courses that have benefited 1,590 participants and helped them enter the labour market with improved qualifications.
A key milestone has been the expansion of social security coverage to 303,000 workers, including 225,000 individuals registered over the past five years alone. To further strengthen worker protections, the government has established the 5500 hotline, enabling workers to report labour law violations. The minimum monthly wage has also been raised to IQD 450,000 in an effort to improve income fairness and financial stability for workers.
In 2024 and 2025, the government disbursed more than IQD 70 billion in end-of-service benefits, supporting 17,625 workers upon completion of their employment.
In addition, the Gashanawa Project has been launched as a youth support initiative aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation. In its first phase, USD 2.5 million was provided as loans to 25 small projects, with each receiving IQD 15 million, resulting in the creation of approximately 150 new job opportunities for young people.
The developments reflect the KRG’s continued focus on formalising the labour market, expanding social protection, and supporting employment opportunities, particularly for youth.
