Nashat Shahwez, a member of the Kirkuk provincial council, stated that the delay in recruiting 7,304 contract employees in the province is due to the complexity of the issue. He emphasized the need to find a suitable solution that everyone can agree on.
The 7,000 positions were announced during the first session of the Kirkuk provincial council on August 24, and the governor has reiterated that the appointments will be made soon.
Nashat Shahwez, head of the Kirkuk faction in the provincial council, mentioned in an interview that there has been no division or agreement on the appointments yet.
The northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk, located 238 kilometers north of Baghdad, is an ethnically mixed province with 1.7 million Kurds, Sunni and Shiite Arabs, and Turkmen. It has long been at the center of disputed territories between Baghdad and Erbil.
The unemployment rate in Iraq saw no significant changes in 2023 compared to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 15.53 percent. However, 2023 marked the second consecutive decline in the unemployment rate, according to Germany-based statista.com, a global data and business intelligence platform with an extensive collection of statistics, reports, and insights on over 80,000 topics from 22,500 sources in 170 industries.
People prefer working in the public sector due to shorter work hours, better pay, and retirement benefits, while the private sector struggles to provide easy and well-paid jobs.
Kirkuk, Iraq's second-largest oil reserve, along with many provinces of Iraq, regularly witnesses demonstrations and protests by postgraduates demanding state employment as the private sector has stagnated due to successive wars, instability, and lack of state budget for investment in public services.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) reported last June that the unemployment rate in Iraq has risen from 9% in the early 1990s to 14.2% in 2021.
KirkukNow: What is the current status of recruiting 7,304 contract employees?
Nashat Shahwez: As of now, no division or agreement has been reached. The provincial council's role is to oversee the governor and the local government. The lack of operational platforms and online recruitment is due to the absence of agreement on how to distribute the positions among the communities.
KirkukNow: What is your perspective on the process, particularly regarding the division issue?
Nashat Shahwez: The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) does not support the previous division, which favored one community over others. We believe that all communities should benefit equally this time. We aim to prevent the past mistakes of depriving the Kurdish community. We hope for equal distribution among all ethnicities and will take action to ensure that no ethnicity is left out.
Kirkuk Now: Would the decision on the 7,000 positions be expedited if all council members attended meetings?
Nashat Shahwez: No, the delay is not caused by council members. The issue is complex and rests with the Governorate’s council office. The council's role is to monitor the decision-making process and accept or reject decisions made by the office.
KirkukNow: Hassan Shekhani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) faction, visited the governor of Kirkuk and your faction.
Nashat Shahwez: Mr. Hassan Shekhani is a respected figure and our ally. His recent visits were related to an incident within the governor's office and the head of provincial council, and his presence was significant.
KirkukNow: How are council affairs managed, and what impedes council meetings?
Nashat Shahwez: We have conducted nine council meetings so far. However, due to a
member's illness, we have not been able to achieve the required quorum, leading to meeting cancellations. We await the member's recovery to resume meetings.
KirkukNow: How many meetings have been affected by the member's illness?
Nashat Shahwez: Three meetings were disrupted due to the member's absence. The member in question is Zahir Anwar Aasi of the Oruba Coalition.
KirkukNow: What actions can be taken against members who consistently miss meetings without a valid excuse, such as the Boycott Front with seven members?
Nashat Shahwez: As per council rules, if a member misses four consecutive meetings, the speaker can take legal action to withdraw their membership. We urge those boycotting meetigs to return.
Kirkuk Now: Does the current situation in Syria impact Daesh (ISIS) activities in Kirkuk and surrounding areas?
Nashat Shahwez: Changes in Syria and the Middle East affect all of Iraq, including Kirkuk. However, we have not experienced any negative consequences yet. As the security committee head, I regularly meet with relevant parties and the governor to ensure preparedness for any potential threats.
