Economic expert Ali Al-Fariji has called for the approval of a federal civil service law, saying it is essential to create a fair and unified employment system across Iraq’s public sector.
Speaking about the ongoing debate over salary reforms, Al-Fariji explained that any major change to the government salary scale must have a clear legal basis. Current laws give the government limited authority to adjust allowances, but they do not allow for a complete restructuring of salaries without approval through new legislation or the federal budget law.
According to Al-Fariji, the discussion has once again highlighted the urgent need for a civil service law that would standardize employment rules across government institutions. He said the absence of such a law has left Iraq relying on temporary solutions that delay problems rather than solve them.
He also stressed the importance of reforming government spending in a balanced way instead of simply increasing expenses. One possible solution, he said, is to gradually move some high allowances into basic salaries, making the pay system more transparent and fair.
Al-Fariji further called for activating the job number system to eliminate duplicate positions and so-called “ghost employees” who receive salaries without actually working. He added that any future salary increases should be linked to economic growth, productivity, and inflation rates rather than depending solely on oil revenues, which can rise and fall sharply.
He warned that the salary scale debate is no longer just an administrative issue. It has become a major economic and social challenge that could have wider consequences for the country’s financial stability.
According to Al-Fariji, poorly planned decisions could increase inflation, weaken the purchasing power of the Iraqi dinar, and push prices higher for ordinary citizens. He believes the long-term solution lies in deeper structural reforms that protect workers while also safeguarding the state’s finances.
