Iraqi Parliament Approves Amendment to Staffing Law, Advances Three Bills

Iraqi Parliament's Media Office.

The Iraqi parliament's session.

The Iraqi Council of Representatives, in its 23rd session held on Sunday under the chairmanship of Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi and attended by 246 MPs, voted to approve a proposed amendment to the Staffing Law and completed the first reading and discussion of three other bills.

At the beginning of the session, al-Halbousi congratulated school and university students and teaching staff across Iraq on the start of the new academic year. He called for the new academic year to be marked by greater discipline and a safe learning environment for students, stressing the importance of adhering to official attendance schedules.

He also reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting the requirements of the Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research in a manner that serves the educational process.

The Speaker directed the Security and Defence Committee and the Committee on Regions and Governorates Not Organised into a Region to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two citizens during incidents in the Altun Kupri [Prde] area of Kirkuk Governorate and submit a report to the Council’s leadership for appropriate action.

The Council voted to approve the proposed 22nd Amendment to state employees' Staffing Law No. 25 of 1960, submitted by the Finance and Legal Committees.

The amendment aims to align employees’ job titles with their academic qualifications, create new job titles to meet the needs of state institutions for various specialisations in light of public-service requirements and modern scientific developments, and ensure employees’ professional development and advancement to the grades to which they are legally entitled.

The Council also completed the first reading of the Intellectual Property Bill, submitted by the Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee and the Legal Committee. The bill aims to keep pace with developments in intellectual property rights, protect creators’ rights, prevent infringement and unfair competition, and align intellectual property legislation with economic, cultural and social developments.

The Council further completed the first reading of a bill to ratify an international agreement on security and crime-fighting cooperation between the Republic of Iraq and the Kingdom of Spain. Submitted by the Foreign Relations Committee, the bill reflects the close ties between the two countries and their shared interest in strengthening cooperation to combat all forms of crime and further develop bilateral relations.

The Council also read and discussed a report on a bill to repeal the law ratifying the Arab Economic Unity Agreement (Law No. 169 of 1963), submitted by the Foreign Relations Committee.

Al-Halbousi stressed the need for parliamentary committees to continue their work by following up on voting procedures for legislative proposals and bills that have already undergone a second reading in the Council.

The Speaker also directed that representatives of mobile phone companies and the Communications and Media Commission be hosted to address a complaint concerning the sale of mobile phone lines under fictitious names. The Parliamentary Security and Defence Committee and the Integrity Committee were tasked with following up on the matter.

The Council subsequently adjourned its session until Monday.



PUKMEDIA