KRG to cut 16,000 illegal salaries

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Biometric High Committee decided on Tuesday to cut the salaries of  more than 16,000 people who have been receiving illegal civil service payments. 

According to the committee, 106,839 people receive more than one sort of civil service income or benefit from the KRG. Former political prisoners and the children of martyrs are among groups who receive extra support from the state, legal under Kurdish law.

However, the committee has found that 16,505 of this number  receive illegal payments. 

The  committee has tasked Ministry of Finance with suspending the salaries, and will grant those affected the right to appeal the decision. 

The cuts come as part of a contentious reform law – entitled  “the Reform of Pensions, Salaries, Allowances, Grants and other Benefits” passed in January. The legislation aims to eliminate ghost employees and claims of more than one civil service salary, reduce MP pensions and standardize retirement regulations.

Steps to implement the law began with the restructuring of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs pensions in July.