Iraq Government Can’t Stand Summer Heat, Plans To Minimise Working Hours
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Iraqi government offices may effectively be closed for much of the upcoming summer period, reported the Associated Press on Monday, after a parliamentary committee proposed a new law that would significantly reduce working hours due to the searing summer heat.
Iraqi government offices may effectively be closed for much of the upcoming summer period, reported the Associated Press on Monday, after a parliamentary committee proposed a new law that would significantly reduce working hours due to the searing summer heat.
According to Younadam Kanna, chairman of the parliament’s labour and social affairs committee, the weather in Iraq could exceed a blistering 49°C over the coming months, which could potentially be detrimental to the health of many public servants.
The government is also likely to cut work hours during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in late July, said Kanna, who insisted that the change would not significantly affect the government’s work.
[quote]”We think that the proposed measure is necessary for government employees, especially those who work in the streets, construction sites or open fields,” Kanna noted. “Working under high temperatures for a long time will definitely affect the health of the employees or workers.”[/quote]Kanna however declined to comment when asked whether the new rule would apply to security forces, lawmakers or top ministry officials.
Last week, the US-based Fund for Peace ranked Iraq 9th on its annual Top Ten list of failed states worldwide. Many Iraqis have also questioned the new proposal, which they worry would add further delays to a government already infamous for its lethargy and red tape.
“The employees in our ministries are looking for any pretext to run away from their offices,” said Jassim Al Obeidi, an estate agent in Baghdad.
[quote]”I think that this measure will add more delay to the work in the government offices, and the only damaged party will be the ordinary people who will have to spend more time and efforts trying to finish their paperwork for the government.”[/quote]Additionally, according to AP, as many as 50 pieces of legislation have been stalled by the Iraqi parliament since the beginning of the year.
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Yet, public servants, such as education ministry employee Abas al-Saadi, have welcomed the extra time, noting that “there are a lot of holidays in this country during the year and few more hours off will not hurt.”
“With the summer temperatures in this country and the constant electricity cutoffs, I think the law recommendation is positive and helpful for employees, especially those who want to fast during Ramadan,” he said.
Like most other Muslim countries, official work in tends to come to a crawl during Ramadan. But the proposed new law would for the first time legalize the slowdown for the country’s government.
