KRG’s Council of Ministers Deliberates on Critical Issues

On 8 May 2024, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, led a session of the Council of Ministers, with Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani also present.

The session opened with Prime Minister Barzani expressing concern and sorrow on behalf of the Council for the recent fire at Qaysari Bazaar in downtown Erbil. He extended condolences to the victims and announced that he has directed relevant authorities to investigate the fire’s causes. He praised the swift response of the fire brigade, emergency services, and security forces, emphasising the importance of adhering to health and safety guidelines in public spaces. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing collaborative efforts with UNESCO to restore the historic market.

Discussions during the session included the latest developments concerning public sector salaries and financial obligations between the KRG and the federal government. This included a recent meeting in Baghdad, where the KRG’s technical team, led by Amanj Raheem, Secretary of the Council of Ministers, presented initiatives regarding non-oil revenues and public sector salary digitisation. Prime Minister Barzani reiterated that the KRG has met its obligations to the central government, which in turn must ensure the prompt disbursement of salaries and financial entitlements to the Kurdistan Region.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Aziz Ahmad, highlighted the ongoing efforts in digitising the public sector. He announced that the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) would participate in the ‘My Account’ initiative, facilitating banking and digitisation processes.

Another significant topic addressed was the employment status of 30,672 temporarily contracted KRG employees. The Council recognised their critical role in the public sector and expressed support for their rights, deciding to investigate ways to transition these employees from temporary to permanent status, ensuring they receive comparable legal, administrative, and financial benefits as permanent employees.

Finally, Begard Talabani, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, reported on her recent discussions in Baghdad concerning the agricultural sector. She spoke about negotiations with the central government regarding the purchase of grain products from Kurdistan Region farmers and the equitable provision of agricultural services, including irrigation projects, similar to those provided elsewhere in Iraq.