Employees in the Kurdistan Region are facing a severe and ongoing issue due to the continued delay in the payment of their salaries, causing significant hardship for families who rely on these wages to meet their daily needs. This problem is not new but is the result of mismanagement, financial corruption, and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s failure to implement effective solutions to resolve the crisis.

The Kurdistan Region possesses vast natural resources, including oil and local revenue, yet these resources have not translated into tangible improvements in the situation of the employees. Despite repeated promises, the Kurdistan Regional Government attributes salary delays to the Iraqi government, as well as issues such as poor planning and unfinished projects.

On January 31, 2025, a group of teachers and employees in Sulaimani went on a hunger strike in front of the United Nations in protest of the non-payment of their salaries. This action was a desperate final step by employees who have become disillusioned due to the ongoing neglect of their basic demands.

The International Human Rights Organization in the United States expressed deep concern over the crisis and called for immediate assistance to the hunger strikers. The organization also emphasized the importance of living in a just society governed by the rule of law, rather than being victims of governments unable to meet their basic needs.

Ultimately, there is no human right more important than the right to life and dignity. The deprivation of salaries jeopardizes individuals’ lives and their ability to meet their daily needs. The Kurdistan Regional Government must take responsibility and find immediate solutions to this ongoing crisis.