The Iraqi Parliament on Wednesday passed the first Social Security and Retirement Law for workers, 52 years after the country passed a special law of pension and social security for workers.
The move was welcomed by Iraqi politicians and Prime Minister Muhammed Al-Sudani, who pledged that his government will implement the law.
“We welcome the important step taken by the Parliament, represented by voting on the Social Security and Retirement Law for laborers, as it represents an important part of the economic reform that we adopted in our government program,” Al-Sudani said in a statement.
In addition, the Iraqi PM described the law as representing a qualitative transition in the labor movement, as it supports government plans for the executive program of the government, as well as help to activate the role of the private sector, provide job opportunities for young people, and ensure a decent life for citizens.
“This important law will relieve pressure on public jobs, and all of these are among our priorities that we pledged and voted on in Parliament,” Al-Sudani added.
While the PM appreciated the great efforts made by members of the Parliament, he affirmed that this law represents a road map towards enacting many laws that are in the service and pushes the legislative system towards providing everything that would improve development.
On Wednesday, the Parliament media office said its members “voted on a draft law on social security and retirement for workers.”
The head of the National Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, described it as an important step in supporting the private sector, which is now offered the same rights as the public sector.
For his part, the first deputy head of the Labor and Social Affairs Committee in Parliament, MP Hussein Arab, said the law was one of the most important laws ever drafted by the Iraqi parliament. He explained that the previous labor law was legislated in 1971 and therefore, fails to meet the fresh needs and new conditions of workers and the Iraqi market.
Arab told Asharq Al-Awsat the new law will cover about 6 million workers within a short period.
“If marketed properly and appreciated by the Iraqis, the Social Security and Retirement Law could later cover about 11 million citizens working in the private sector,” he affirmed.
