A senior source in Baghdad says no legal or political obstacles remain to transferring salaries for public employees and pensioners in the Kurdistan Region. The money is expected to arrive by the middle of next week, allowing distribution to begin soon afterward.
The source said that Baghdad will likely send the funds around midweek. Once the transfer reaches the Kurdistan Regional Government, officials expect salary distribution to begin within the same week.
A separate source at Iraq’s Ministry of Finance said federal authorities had not identified any legal or political problem affecting the payment. Baghdad will begin the required procedures after completing salary payments for employees in federal ministries.
The source added that Kurdistan Region salaries could be processed before payments for independent commissions and the country’s presidencies. However, Iraq’s difficult financial situation prevents officials from setting a precise date. The timing depends on whether the government has enough cash available.
So far, about half of Iraq’s public employees have received their salaries. Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and employees of the interior and defence ministries have received full payments.
Most workers at the ministries of education, environment and transport have also been paid. The Sunni Endowment and the Independent High Electoral Commission have completed most of their salary distributions.
Payments for the ministries of health, electricity, industry and minerals began on Sunday. Officials expect those distributions to finish on Wednesday or Thursday.
Several institutions are still waiting. They include the ministries of higher education, agriculture, finance, trade, construction and housing, culture and tourism, and water resources. The presidencies, parliament and independent commissions also remain unpaid.
According to the government spokesperson, Iraq should complete these remaining salary payments by next week. After that, Baghdad is expected to transfer the Kurdistan Region’s salary funds without any further delay.
