Iranian Workers in Iraqi Kurdistan; Iran’s Government Does Not Issue ‘Work Visas’

The head of the construction workers’ trade union in Marivan and Sardasht says the Iranian government has taken no steps for Iranian migrant workers in Iraqi Kurdistan, but according to him, the labor syndicate of Iraqi Kurdistan is seeking to address the situation of this group.

According to Iran Labor News Agency, Mikail Sadeghian, referring to Iran’s announcement that the number of Iranian migrant workers in Iraqi Kurdistan is “between 10 to 12 thousand people,” said that Iraqi labor syndicates have “estimated this figure at around 35 thousand people.”

Mr. Sadeghian cited “Iraq’s construction conditions, the day-to-day increase in currency prices, and the work situation in Kurdistan province” as the main reasons for Iranian workers’ migration to Iraqi Kurdistan.

According to him, many of these Iranian migrant workers “work in Iraq with one-month tourist visas.” Sadeghian considered issuing work visas for this category of migrants as one of “the demands of the construction workers’ trade union” from the Iranian government.

Among the reasons for Iranian workers’ migration to other countries to find employment and earn higher incomes are the high rate of unemployment and the mismatch between income and expenses in Iran.

Although the Iranian government announced the unemployment rate in the country at close to 9 percent this spring, many economists do not consider this figure realistic and believe the actual unemployment rate is higher than official figures.

In recent months and weeks, multiple trade union and labor gatherings have been held in some parts of Iran in protest against poor living conditions.

Source: Voice of America