Skip to main content

Small victory for Iraqi civil society on pension law

While civil activists successfully brought an end to unfair parliamentary salaries and pensions last month, many gaps in Iraqi law persist.
Protesters demand that the pensions of parliamentarians be cancelled during a demonstration in Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) south of Baghdad, August 31, 2013. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Baghdad and central and southern Iraq on Saturday against generous pension payments to lawmakers in a county where many are still struggling to get jobs and basic services.  REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammed (IRAQ - Tags - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT SOCIETY CIVIL UNREST) - RTX132K4
Read in 

It can be said that the civil movement that took off in Iraq to cancel privileges, special ranks and pensions of members of parliament has led to tangible progress toward this goal, after the federal government issued a decision in October to cancel the old pension law that guaranteed parliament members and government officials a pension for having served in the parliament or the government for four years or less.

Today, the Iraqi parliament must inevitably issue new legislation that organizes state service and the resulting pensions in a way that fulfills the principles of equality and justice in this field.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.