Private-Sector Employee
Private-sector work in Kurdistan is currently governed by federal Iraqi Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 — a Kurdistan-specific law is drafted but not yet in force.
The Kurdistan Region does not yet have its own separate private-sector labour law in force. A Kurdistan-specific labour law has been drafted but is still pending endorsement by the Kurdistan Parliament. Until it takes effect, private-sector employment in the Kurdistan Region — contracts, wages, working hours, leave, and workplace safety — is governed by the federal Iraqi Labour Law No. 37 of 2015, the same law that applies in the rest of Iraq. This app will update this page once the Kurdistan-specific law is confirmed in force.
Legal basis
Federal Iraqi Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 is the applicable framework for private-sector employment in the Kurdistan Region until a Kurdistan-specific law takes effect.
Iraqi Labour Law No. 37 of 2015
Source: Reported in Iraq/Kurdistan legal and business press, 2026 (Kurdistan-specific law drafted, pending Parliament endorsement)
Last verified: 12 Sept 2026
ℹ️ Information is provided from official laws, regulations and government publications and is intended for general guidance. Specific rights may depend on employment category, contract, profession and applicable regulations. Always check the latest official source for legal or administrative decisions.