Iraq's oil industry, which contributes more than 90% of state revenues, is facing criticism for employing over 100,000 foreign workers, in violation of Iraqi law that mandates 80% of the workforce to be Iraqi. Shell, Exxon Mobil, and BP are among the prominent companies employing foreign workers. The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee plans to address this issue with the Ministry of Oil to ensure compliance with the law and create more job opportunities for Iraqis. Iraqi university graduates have staged protests demanding employment opportunities from these companies [18859f3f].
Iraq, ranked 29th on the list of lowest oil prices, is among the top five exporters of crude oil to the US. However, Iraq plans to reduce its oil production by 400,000 barrels and increase its production capacity to 280,000 barrels per day. Iran has increased its oil production in fields shared with Iraq. Additionally, Iraq is China's third-largest crude supplier for 2020 [18859f3f].
The increase in foreign workers in Iraq's oil industry comes at a time when the country is grappling with high unemployment rates, especially among young people. The employment of foreign workers instead of Iraqis has sparked protests by Iraqi university graduates, who are demanding job opportunities from the oil giants operating in the country. The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee is set to discuss this issue with the Ministry of Oil to ensure that companies comply with Iraqi labor laws and prioritize local employment [18859f3f].
The oil industry in Iraq is of significant importance to the country's economy, contributing more than 90% of state revenues. However, the employment of over 100,000 foreign workers by oil companies has raised concerns about the lack of job opportunities for Iraqis. The government aims to address this issue by enforcing the law that requires companies to employ 80% of the Iraqi workforce. The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee is taking steps to discuss this matter with the Ministry of Oil and find solutions to enhance job opportunities for Iraqis [18859f3f].