In recent weeks, several Iraqi airports have witnessed an escalation in protest actions carried out by workers in the civil aviation sector. This reflects the deep crisis affecting this vital sector, resulting from delays in salary payments, deteriorating working conditions, and the absence of job and administrative stability.
The roots of these protests trace back to administrative and organizational decisions taken in the past period, which led to separating the management of some airports from previous financial and administrative structures. This caused clear confusion in payroll procedures and in determining the authority responsible for salaries and financial rights. According to workers’ testimonies, this situation directly impacted the regularity of salary payments, with some sites experiencing delays of several months without clear solutions or a binding timetable.
Airport Workers’ Demands
The protesters have raised a set of demands they describe as “essential and legitimate,” primarily including:
Immediate payment of all overdue salaries and financial entitlements without installment delays;
Guaranteeing job stability and protecting workers from any arbitrary measures;
Improving working conditions and operational environments within airports, including occupational safety and health requirements;
Establishing a clear administrative and financial framework to ensure workers’ rights and prevent recurring crises.
Workers stressed that operating aéroports and génération revenue while salaries are irrégulier constitues a blatant violation of the principle of pay for work, placing the burden of administrative and financial failures solely on them.
The labor actions have taken various forms, including peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins, with warnings of potential escalation if demands continue to be ignored. Meanwhile, official communications have so far failed to provide substantial solutions, increasing the tension among workers, who emphasize that their actions will remain peaceful but persistent until their demands are met.
The impact of this crisis extends beyond airport workers to their families, amid Iraq’s difficult economic conditions and rising living costs. Workers’ representatives assert that delayed salaries are no longer merely an administrative matter, but a social issue affecting the right to a decent life and family stability.
The Arab Union of Trade Unions is closely monitoring developments at Iraq’s airports and expresses full solidarity with the protesting workers. It calls on the Iraqi government and relevant authorities to fulfill their legal and social responsibilities and to ensure:
Timely payment of wages as a non-negotiable right;
Respect for workers’ rights and trade union freedoms;
Use of social dialogue as a key approach to resolving the crisis and preventing its escalation.
The union emphasizes that protecting workers’ rights in vital sectors, particularly civil aviation, is a cornerstone of public service stability, achievable only through fair, transparent policies based on decent work standards and social justice.
English 
Arabic