The Kurdistan Retirees Union says employees who retired this year have not received salaries for four to five months.
Sadiq Sheikh Othman, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Retirees Union, said the delays mainly result from unfinished retirement procedures.
Additionally, he said many new retirees have waited months for their pension files to move through the system.
He explained that some retirees waited four to five months without receiving their salaries. Once authorities completed their files, they received only one monthly payment.
Othman said the law requires authorities to pay all delayed salaries once they approve a retiree’s pension.
He explained that retirement procedures can sometimes delay payments. However, authorities should pay the accumulated salaries together after completing the process.
According to the union spokesperson, the Kurdistan Region has not fully implemented this provision.
As a result, some employees who retired this year continue to wait for several months of unpaid salaries. The union says the delay has created financial difficulties for many retirees.
Othman also said the union plans to raise the issue directly with the governments of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
The union will hold a gathering in Sulaymaniyah on Sunday. Representatives will meet near the public park and hold a press conference.
They plan to present their demands and call for the payment of delayed pensions. They will also raise other issues related to retirees’ rights.
The Kurdistan Region has more than 170,000 civilian retirees. In addition, more than 70,000 military retirees receive pensions.
The union says authorities must resolve delays in pension procedures. It also wants retirees to receive all outstanding payments according to the law.
Meanwhile, the issue highlights broader challenges in the region’s salary and pension system. Delays can affect thousands of families that depend on regular monthly payments.
The retirees’ union is therefore calling for faster administrative procedures. It also wants the authorities to ensure that new retirees receive their accumulated salaries without further delays.
