Turkish interference A peaceful Ashura - Soma Digest

Issue no.19 Feb 8 - 23, 2007
Average Kurds struggle to survive on their meager salaries, as prices
for basic necessities keep going up.
The trouble with salaries today
Lawen A. Sagerma
SLEMANI
Average Kurds are having to dig
deeper into their pockets these
days to cover the rising costs of
living, while their salaries largely remain
the same. Even as the topic of insufficient
wages dominates the workplace across
the region, the government seems to be
doing little to help alleviate the burden
from its citizens.
The shortage of electricity and water is
compelling Kurds to resolve these difficulties
themselves. Many people have
now resorted to purchasing an electrical
generator. Those building houses make
sure to install a well to avoid the problem
of shortage of water.
However, providing for themselves is
beginning to weigh heavily on the shoulders
as this winter season saw prices of
refined oil products, such as benzene or
parafin and liquid gas, reach 25,000 Iraqi
Dinars and 30,000 Iraqi Dinars respectively
for 20 litre containers.
Increases in the market place, especially
in respect to food, have led to an escalation
of people’s daily expenditures.
Low salaries mean that the average
Kurd will be fortunate if he can find a
decent and affordable place to live. A
one-room dwelling starts at about
US$200, while the average rent for a
house per month is now at around
US$400.
One cause of this derives from companies
that choose not to pour funds into the
construction of buildings, but rather to
rent houses and run their business from
there. They are indifferent to paying rent
in excess of US$400 monthly because
their turnover is greater than that by a
huge margin. Consequently this has a
negative impact on ordinary Kurds who
are struggling to eke by.
The police force, the backbone of the
region’s security, earn on average
330,000 Iraqi Dinars per month. A random
survey of policemen revealed that
their income is not enough to meet their
requirements. Moreover, the nature of
their job has become a hindrance in seeking
other employment in conjunction
with their current work.
The police sector is always on call and
often work longer hours than most professions
thus have become unable to seek
an additional job.
Proposals were presented to the
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
by the Ministry of Interior to increase the
salary of police officers and traffic police
to match those in Baghdad who are on
800,000-900,000 Iraqi Dinars. But the
argument is based on the premise that
Baghdad-based policemen are faced with
graver security threats.
The year 2003 saw the mass arrival of
Iraqi Arabs into Kurdish region, predominately
as laborers. Their entrance has
done much to allow the economy to
remain active.
Although Kurdish laborers have
always being available, the surge in construction
and foreign companies made it
harder for the Kurdish laborers to meet
the deadlines and drove down the wages.
The Arab influx from war torn Baghdad
has eased the pressure somewhat and has
contributed to the progression of the
Kurdistan Region.
However, the Arab workers are discriminated
against. A Kurdish laborer
earns between 22,000 and 25,000 Iraqi
Dinars daily, sometimes more but never
less, whereas an Arab laborer earns less
that 20,000 Iraqi Dinars a day and has to
spend half of that on food and a hotel.
University graduates of a three-year
degree are guaranteed a minimum wage
of 157,000 Iraqi Dinars upon employment;
graduates of a four-year degree,
204,000 Iraqi Dinars; and graduates of a
six-year degree will earn 215,000 Iraqi
Dinars on initial employment.
Considering the recent increases in oil
and gas prices, rent and daily expenditure,
these wages are not enough and it is
clear that the regional government needs
to do more.
Non-graduates in 2004 were on a
monthly income of 69,000 Iraqi Dinars
but a new directive came into force on 10
March 2005 that decreed that anyone
employed could receive no less than
100,000 Iraqi Dinars per month, in effect
setting a minimum wage. Although this
is welcomed, it is still not enough.
If the KRG cannot provide its people
with electricity and water, then they must
make available to them the option of
procuring it themselves by allocating
them with enough monetary funds to be
able to do so.
On the other hand, in allowing the people
to fend for themselves, the government
runs the risk of isolating themselves
from the electorate.
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