Baghdad hosts high-level tripartite meeting to discuss the impact of the financial crisis on the labour market

The meeting of the social Dialogue Forum in Iraq was convened in on Thursday, 23 April 2026, to discuss the impact of the current financial and economic conditions on the Iraqi labour market, amid increasing challenges facing the country in 2026. The meeting was held with the support of International Labour Organization under the framework of the European Union-funded Building an Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) project.

The session brought together high-level government officials, including H.E. Mr. Ahmed Al-Asadi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and Chair of the Forum, alongside Dr. Mudher Mohammed Saleh, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Financial Affairs; Mr. Maher Johan, Deputy Minister of Planning; Mr. Amjad Khaled Al-Sayegh, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Mr. Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Iraq; and Mr. Igor Bosc, ILO Country Coordinator for Iraq.

Participants also included senior representatives from the Ministries of Labour and Social Affairs, Planning, Finance, Trade, and the Central Bank of Iraq, as well as representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations. The meeting further brought together the ILO Iraq team, regional specialists on workers’ and employers’ activities, and a representative from the Social Dialogue Unit at the International Labour Office in Geneva, reflecting a comprehensive tripartite dialogue among key labour market stakeholders.

The discussions took place at a critical time for Iraq’s economy, as financial pressures continue to affect key sectors, including construction and trade, as well as employment stability and wage levels.

Participants emphasized the importance of social dialogue as a key mechanism to navigate this phase, highlighting the need to enhance transparency, strengthen coordination between the government and social partners, and develop practical and balanced solutions that protect both workers and employers while supporting business continuity.

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Al-Asadi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, stated:
“Iraq has established practical foundations to institutionalize social dialogue as a sustainable approach to managing labour relations, rather than a temporary response. Ensuring wage continuity and protecting workers’ rights remain key national priorities to support sectoral stability.”

Mr. Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Iraq, stated:
“The current financial crisis underlines once again the need for economic diversification, driven small and medium sized enterprises”

Mr. Igor Bosc, ILO Country Coordinator for Iraq, noted:
“Social dialogue is a key mechanism to address current economic challenges by strengthening coordination among social partners and supporting practical solutions that balance workers’ protection with business continuity.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed on the importance of developing a joint, actionable roadmap within a defined timeframe, to be submitted to relevant high-level government authorities. A tripartite technical team will also be established to follow up on implementation, contributing to mitigating the impact of the crisis and maintaining labour market stability.

This initiative is part of the activities of the European Union funded programme BEIT “Building an Equitable and Inclusive Transformation”, implemented by the International Labour Organization, the International Trade Centre and UN-Habitat.