The American University of Iraq-Baghdad’s (AUIB’s) Center for Policy Research and the International Labour Organization (ILO) co-organized the “National Conference on Social Security and Public Works in Iraq,” funded by the European Union. AUIB President, Dr. Michael Mulnix, welcomed to campus the host of attendees, among whom were Acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Judge Salar Abdul Sattar, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, Consuls, United Nations officials, researchers, and university faculty.
President Mulnix briefed the audience on the “rapid and efficient development” of AUIB’s colleges and programs, affirming that “revamping the educational and health sectors” of Iraq is at the center of AUIB’s objectives, and that collaborative activities with established international institutions, such as the present event, directly contribute to the fulfillment of AUIB’s mission.
ILO Representative, Dr. Maha Katta, spoke of the series of “acute crises” that befell Iraq since the 2003 war and up to the Covid pandemic, including ISIS, all against a backdrop of recovery and reconstruction imperatives, themselves hindered by the period of low oil prices and thus lower revenue to the treasury. These challenges once again highlight Iraq’s need for reconstruction and development; however, that depends on “developing national policies for the creation of decent work opportunities” for Iraqis, capitalizing on the resurgence of oil prices, according to Dr. Katta, who spoke of a “reform program” undertaken by the “two governments of Iraq and Kurdistan” for supporting workers in moving to better professions and promoting the provision of social security. In this context, Dr. Katta announced that ILO is discussing “how to integrate a program of public works in governmental policies,” stressing the interdependence between social protection and employment, or the creation of decent work opportunities for Iraqis, knowing that “a very small percentage” of workers are currently covered by the social security system. “Let the state invest in infrastructure and (public) services,” said Dr. Katta, calling for the “formulation of a policy and a vision” in this regard.
On his part, Minister Abdul Sattar spoke of “the aspirations of the working class to (social) security,” including “unemployment security (or benefits), workers’ (social) security, optional (social) security, and informal sector workers’ (social) security,” in addition to assuring protection against violations of “basic freedoms, including workers’ (syndicate-related) freedoms.” The Minister affirmed that what preceded would serve the purpose of realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, echoing the call to create decent work opportunities to every Iraqi citizen, serving the reduction of poverty and bolstering the national economy.