Dr. Maha Kattaa, the ILO Iraq Country Coordinator, offers insightful reflections on the key actions of the ILO and its impactful Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq throughout 2023. With a focus on the enduring collaboration with tripartite constituents and partners, Kattaa sheds light on the concerted efforts to bolster job creation, foster private sector development, strengthen social protection measures, combat child labour, and enhance labour governance and social dialogue.

Q1: How did the ILO contribute to Iraq's overall development progress amid the global challenges faced in 2023 and the challenges faced by Iraq in particular? How is the Decent Work Country Programme strategically addressing these challenges?

A1: In 2023, we have seen how the world faced an unrestrained landscape marked by extreme disasters, escalating conflicts, and pivotal discussions about technology and gender. It was a year of critical moments yet progress often felt halted amidst a series of global challenges. Unfortunately, we all have witnessed how these crises pushed countless people into poverty, hunger, and danger. Concurrently, humanitarian efforts faced critical challenges in keeping pace with the escalating needs.
Back to Iraq, the country grapples with significant challenges, including a 30% poverty rate, rural-urban disparity, an 800,000-employment drop post the 2014 crisis, gender disparities with a mere 10.6% female labour force participation, and income inequality within the workforce. The informal sector casts a shadow over nearly a two-third of the working-age population.

In response, the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq, developed collaboratively with the government, trade unions, and employers, addresses these challenges by focusing on three key strategic priorities: supporting job creation and private sector development, strengthening social protection and combating child labour, and enhancing labour governance and social dialogue.

In 2023, the ILO played a pivotal role in Iraq's transformative journey, navigating the aftermath of two decades marked by violence and societal divisions. Despite global challenges, the ILO remained steadfast in its commitment to Iraq's progress, championing collaborative efforts with the government, employers’, and workers’ organizations.
While ongoing efforts are in place, specific outcomes and improvements related to promoting decent work and social justice in areas like youth employment, skills development, MSMEs development, financial inclusion, fighting against child labour, social protection, and ensuring fundamental principles and rights at work are detailed in the DWCP's Annual Progress Report for 2023.

Q2: Why does the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq prioritize job creation and private sector development as its first priority?
A2: Iraq grapples with a significant job crisis, exacerbated by years of conflict and one of the lowest employment-to-population ratios in the region. Unemployment rates are particularly high among women, youth, and displaced communities. Limited growth in the private sector poses a major barrier to extensive job creation. The ILO's priority is to achieve decent work for all, and by focusing on job creation and private sector development, the programme aims to provide access to decent and longer-term income-generating opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups. This approach aligns with the ILO's mandate to support sustainable employment outcomes and contribute to job-rich economic growth.

Q3: How does the Decent Work Country Programme address vulnerabilities in Iraq through social protection and efforts to combat child labour as its second priority?
A3: Basically, because the acute need for basic social protection in Iraq, given the impact of conflict and income loss, underscores the importance of the second priority. Despite ongoing efforts to enhance existing schemes, many vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons and persons with disabilities, remain underserved. Moreover, child labour is a reality, further necessitating urgent action. The ILO's approach involves extending social insurance, boosting private sector development, and promoting equal opportunities by reallocating human capital toward the private sector. The establishment of a Social Protection Floor and direct protection activities targeting vulnerable groups, including IDPs, PWDs, and children at risk of child labour, is being a key focus, aligning with the ILO's commitment to 'leave no one behind.'

Q4: Why is strengthening labour market governance and improving social dialogue mechanisms a priority under the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq?
Q5: Can you highlight some notable achievements and initiatives from the four-year implementation of the Iraq Decent Work Country Programme, particularly in creating employment opportunities and fostering sustainable employment models?

A5: Certainly. Over the past four years, the Iraq Decent Work Country Programme, led by the ILO, has achieved significant milestones. Noteworthy initiatives include ongoing consultations with the Government of Iraq to create 100,000 job opportunities through a Public Works Programme, reflecting a commitment to inclusive economic development. The transition from emergency cash-for-work initiatives to sustainable public works programme through the Employment Intensive Investment Programme approaches signifies a paradigm shift, fostering sustainable and productive employment. Collaborations with key stakeholders and institutions, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and business service providers, have empowered entrepreneurs and enhanced financial inclusivity.

Over the course of the four-year implementation of the Programme, ILO, working in tandem with its tripartite constituents, has achieved noteworthy milestones in response to the pressing challenges faced by the people of Iraq affected by conflict, unemployment, and a deficit of decent work.

A pivotal accomplishment includes the publication of the National Labour Force Survey (LFS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, the Central Statistical Organization, and the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office. The LFS, a first in over a decade, has not only filled a critical data gap but has also served as a foundation for numerous research papers and policy discussions. Roundtables and conferences facilitated evidence-based and country-specific policy proposals, paving the way for the drafting of a new National Employment Policy for Iraq.

Addressing the issue of informality, the ILO contributed significantly to the publication of an informality diagnostic and the formulation of a national framework aimed at transitioning from the informal to the formal economy.

In support of Iraq's reconstruction and recovery efforts, the adoption and operationalization of the ILO's Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) by the government of Federal Iraq and KRI have resulted in the creation of 82,157 worker days, benefiting 1,460 job seekers, including a significant proportion of forcibly displaced persons and women.

In the realm of entrepreneurship, collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Business Development Service (BDS) providers, NGOs, and UN agencies have led to the institutionalization of ILO's Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), Financial Literacy, and Know About Business (KAB) programmes. This initiative reached 2,383 entrepreneurs, with a focus on women and youth from internally displaced, refugee, and host communities, enhancing their business capacities.

The ILO's financial inclusion strategy, operationalized by the Central Bank of Iraq and Al Thiqa Microfinance Institution in Federal Iraq and KRI, facilitated access to loans for Iraqi entrepreneurs and Syrian refugees. This initiative resulted in the creation of 1,388 direct jobs and benefited at least 6,940 individuals.

Furthermore, the institutionalization of the Child Labour Monitoring System (CLMS) and Child Labour Standards has been a pivotal step, impacting over 8,000 children. Child Friendly Learning Spaces were established, providing mental health and psychosocial support and recreational activities, leading to the withdrawal of 2,173 children from child labour in IDP affected areas.

Endorsement and publication of Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) policies, along with capacity building for labour and OSH inspectors and government officials, are additional highlights of the ILO's multifaceted efforts in Iraq. These policies have been endorsed by both Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs of Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

These achievements collectively underscore our commitment to promoting decent work, tackling diverse challenges within the Iraqi workforce, and advancing inclusive economic development while fostering sustainable employment.

Q6: Could you share specific achievements and highlight the changes and impact resulting from the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq during 2023?

A6: Absolutely. In 2023, our efforts under the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq yielded significant achievements, reflecting our commitment to enhancing the well-being of workers and promoting social justice. One noteworthy accomplishment was the successful ratification of two crucial ILO conventions: The Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). This ratification process, guided by the ILO, was officially completed by the Government of Iraq in March 2023. These conventions are set to enter into force in March 2024, and we are poised to provide ongoing technical support to the government and social partners as they fulfill their reporting commitments.

Another pivotal moment in 2023 was the adoption of the new Social Security Law for Private Sector Workers by the Council of Representatives in Federal Iraq in May. This law marks a significant reform in the social security system for private-sector workers, aligning it more closely with ILO's Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102). The reforms expand the legal coverage of the social security system, now encompassing all workers, including informal workers, the self-employed, and contributing family workers. Notably, the law introduces additional entitlements, such as maternity and unemployment benefits, a crucial step forward in enhancing the social protection framework.

Additionally, our technical support extended to the Government of Iraq in developing a comprehensive "Iraq national strategy to prevent and reduce inequalities in the world of work for the years 2024-2028." This strategy, a collaborative effort with social partners, is on track to be endorsed in the first quarter of 2024. It signifies our dedication to addressing and mitigating inequalities in the world of work, further aligning with the broader goals of the Decent Work Country Programme.

These achievements underscore our commitment to fostering a fair and inclusive work environment, promoting social justice, and contributing to the overall socio-economic development of Iraq.

Q7: The United Nations in Iraq, including ILO, released a statement on child labour recently. What key aspects or initiatives does it highlight and elaborate on?

A7: The statement released by the United Nations in Iraq, including the International Labour Organization, addressed the critical issue of child labour in conjunction with the 2023 World Day Against Child Labour. The focus was on advancing social justice as a means to tackle child labour, aligning with the theme 'Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!' The intention was to shed light on the persistent challenges faced by children in Iraq, especially those driven to work due to poverty, economic hardships, and the aftermath of conflicts. We emphasized the need for collective efforts to protect the fundamental rights of every child, as evidenced by the 2018 UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which revealed concerning rates of child labour among children aged 5-14 in Iraq.
We are committed to work closely with the government and relevant stakeholders to enhance policies, build capacities, and address root causes that force many young children into work. Despite Iraq's ratification of key conventions protecting children, the persistent challenges necessitate ongoing collaborative actions.

Allow me to highlight the recent efforts, such as the institutionalization of the ILO-supported Child Labour Monitoring System (CLMS) and the establishment of Child-Friendly Learning Spaces (CFLS) in coordination with local authorities. These initiatives aim to provide vulnerable children with protection, support, and non-formal education, ultimately striving to eliminate child labour.

We believe that efforts to address the root causes of child labour, including skills development for families of working children and the recent adoption of the Retirement and Social Security Law for Private Sector Workers, are crucial steps in creating lasting positive impacts on families and children.
Social justice for children and their families remains our top priority and it is the collective responsibility of all partners to ensure that no one is left behind.

ILO PROSPECTS in Iraq supports livelihoods and decent work for refugees, IDPs and host communities. The programme includes a financial inclusion initiative to support businesses to access loans and build their financial and business skills and the development of vocational training programmes in market-relevant occupations.Read more

Q8: Can you provide insights into the impact and achievements of the Work-Based Learning programmes recently completed in Duhok and Mosul?

A8: Definitely. The Work-Based Learning programmes in Duhok and Mosul, implemented by the ILO under the PROSPECTS Partnership, marked a significant milestone with the graduation of 400 participants, women and men from forcibly displaced and host communities. These programmes covered 18 occupations, engaging 60 enterprises and enterprise owners, along with various government and social partners. The aim was to equip participants with market-relevant skills, facilitating their transition to decent work. The collaborative efforts with tripartite constituents, including governmental bodies, vocational training centers, chambers of industry and commerce, and social partners, contributed to the success of these initiatives.

Allow me to add that the ILO, along with our partners, envisions expanding these Work-Based Learning programmes to inform the development of a national framework for Work-Based Learning and apprenticeships in Iraq.

Q9: Could you expand on the ILO's partnerships and collaborations under the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq?

A9: The ILO places a strong emphasis on collaborative efforts within the Decent Work Country Programme in Iraq. We have forged valuable partnerships with esteemed UN agencies, including UNESCO, WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN Women, UNDP, IOM, UN-Habitat, FAO, UNFPA, the World Bank, and IFC, besides the Cash and Livelihoods Consortium for Iraq, comprising the Danish Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and Oxfam. This diverse network reflects our comprehensive approach towards fostering decent work in Iraq. Additionally, our engagements extend to local Civil Society Organizations at the governorate level, fostering robust connections within the Iraqi communities we serve.