Iraq suspends recruitment of foreign workers from five countries

BAGHDAD,— Iraq’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has imposed a temporary suspension on the hiring of foreign workers from five nations, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

The restriction applies to laborers from Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines, according to ministry representative Hassan Khuwam. He stated that the decision blocks workers from these countries from entering Iraq for employment purposes.

The move follows the implementation of Resolution No. 24832, issued in 2024 by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. The directive requires companies and investors operating in Iraq to employ at least 80% Iraqi nationals and limit the use of foreign workers to no more than 20%. Employers are also directed to use the ministry’s “Mihan” platform to fill jobs with local candidates.

Officials say the policy supports national labor and addresses illegal residency issues. In March, the Ministry of Interior reported the detention of 738 foreign workers in Baghdad over residency violations.

That same month, Iraqi authorities began a broad crackdown on non-citizens accused of overstaying visas or lacking valid documentation. The campaign included home and workplace inspections, which led to the arrest and deportation of several Syrians.

The government’s actions have sparked concern from rights groups. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Iraq hosted over 300,000 refugees by the end of 2023, the majority being Syrians.

Human Rights Watch reported that it has often spoken with Syrian nationals in Erbil and Baghdad, including individuals holding valid Iraqi residency permits who still faced deportation, as well as others registered as refugees with the UNHCR.