Today’s newspaper is interested in Al-Sudani’s claims that the government program represents the future vision of the government and the reasons for the expansion of unemployment in Iraq.

Baghdad/NinaNewspapers published today, Tuesday, December 13, focused on Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’a Al-Sudani’s claim that the government program represents the future vision of the government and the reasons for the increase in unemployment in Iraq.

Al-Zawraa newspaper, published by the Journalists Syndicate, quoted Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ Al-Sudani as confirming yesterday, Monday, that the government’s program represents the government’s future vision.

The Prime Minister’s Press Office said in a statement: “Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani presided over an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers, which witnessed the approval and vote on the government program.”

Al-Sudani emphasized, according to the statement, that “the government program represents the future vision of the government and translates the plans and programs of the ministries that it intends to implement for the next phase.”

He added: “The performance of the government will be evaluated in the light of its government-based agenda, and the evaluation will include ministers, agents, governors, advisers and directors-general, according to specific time frames.”
The prime minister gave the chief directors a period of three months, starting tomorrow, Tuesday, after which their work will be evaluated according to what was carried out based on the Government’s program, and the ministers, agents, governors and advisers for a period of six months, after which evaluate their work in the light of the implementation of the Government program and commitment to the main directions and priorities.

And the press release states that “the extraordinary session witnessed extensive discussions on the mechanisms of implementation of the Government’s program, and the confirmation of commitment to it by ministers and advanced personnel in all ministries and agencies”, emphasizing that “the Government has decided to form a commission from within the council to seriously monitor the implementation Government program, with the formation of sub-committees in each ministry for the implementation of their plans and what is required of them within the framework of the Government program.

And he continued, “In the light of defining the mechanism for implementing the Government program and achieving its goals, the Council of Ministers approved that the Ministry of Planning, independent agencies, entities not related to the ministry and governorates not organized in the region, commit to the implementation of projects and programs , in accordance with the government’s priorities contained in the ministerial platform that is in force, and in accordance with specialization. The Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Finance and other ministries provide allocations and financing for the implementation of government program requirements and operational and investment budgets.

He pointed out that “the Council approved the start of implementation of the Government program for ministries as follows:
a. Executive procedures that do not require financial reduction are applied immediately after program approval.
B. Executive procedures that need to be included and financially allocated are counted from the date of adoption of the Law on the General Federal Budget for the year 2023.”

The government unanimously approved the government program.
Yesterday, Monday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’a al-Sudani presided over an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers devoted to the discussion of the government’s program.
The Prime Minister’s Office for Media said in a statement: “Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’a al-Sudani presided over an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers dedicated to the discussion of the government program.”

Al-Zaman newspaper addressed the reasons for the expansion of unemployment in Iraq and quoted an economist who confirmed that attracting labor requires a serious will of the government, which works to provide all the means and capabilities to activate the market economy far from slogans that are not implemented, and indicated that exchange rate fluctuations and the existence of procedures and laws are delaying the process. Investments make Iraq an environment that expels capital in establishing development projects that contribute to the absorption of unemployment.

He said that (there are several reasons for the expansion of unemployment in the country, including lack of seriousness on the part of the government or the private sector to open new projects or expand existing ones. The government promotes the slogan of a market economy without real implementation, and the private sector faces many obstacles to open new projects , of which the most important are procedures and laws),

He added that (the expansion of the manufacturing sector, especially the industrial sector, means providing great services to the economy and employing tens of thousands of workers, but many obstacles are delaying this. The unstable security situation, along with the fluctuation of the dollar exchange rate, makes Iraq a repulsive environment for investors, and as we know capital A the coward and his owners do not risk their money in an unstable economic reality for fear of losses).

He pointed out that (if the government is unable to open new projects, it must open the door to investors under easy conditions to establish large projects that attract labor or by lending money to productive projects to establish new production lines and increase production, which requires new labor).

Al-Amin further said that (the government is required to encourage civil society organizations to open courses for the unemployed, with the aim of teaching new occupations in mechanics, blacksmithing, carpentry, transport, etc., as these courses can contribute to skilled individuals and motivate them to opening small workshops that help reduce unemployment).

The Ministry of Construction previously published official statistics on the number of inhabitants and percentages of employees in the public and private sectors.

And the spokesman of the ministry, Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, said in a statement yesterday that (the population of Iraq exceeded 41 million people by the end of last year in 2021, and it was expected to reach 42 million people during the current year), stressing that (by 2030? the population is expected to reach 50 million people).

He pointed out that (these expectations come at a time when there is no general population census),

And he continued that (the economically active population aged 15 and over makes up 64 percent, with 50.3 percent of men and 49.7 percent of women), noting that (the group of young people aged 15 to 24 makes up 21 percent, while those aged 25 and over make up 43 percent of the population (total population).

Al-Hindawi explained that (estimates of the economically active labor force are about 43.5 percent, which is more than 10 million people), and indicated that (the participation of women in the labor force does not exceed 11 percent, compared to 68 percent of men).

He further said that (the number of workers is 9 million people, which accounts for 84 percent, with an employment rate reaching 33 percent, i.e. one third of the population is able to work), and Al-Hindawi confirmed that (the top three industries are construction 16, 3 percent and public administration and defense 16 percent) and wholesale and retail trade 14 percent), adding that (73 percent of women work in the service industry, while men dominate in four occupations, namely construction, services, security and vehicle drivers and trucks, but women, on the other hand, dominate in education at various stages and the clothing industry).

He explained that (the percentage of government sector workers is 38 percent, compared to 62 percent of private sector workers in all details),

He pointed out that (9 percent of all young people work in jobs below their skill level, and 37 percent are uneducated, employed or trained).

Al-Hindawi said that (the unemployment rate in Iraq last year reached 16.5 percent, which is higher than it was before 2020? Also, the provinces with the highest unemployment rate are Nineveh with 33 percent, followed by Muthanna with 27 percent, followed by Dhi Qar at 26 percent and Basra at 22 percent). /is done