.png)
* Playroll continues to analyse immediate opportunities and fulfilled roles by recruitment partners, contractors and employers to identify in-demand jobs.
Iraq's economy heavily relies on its oil sector, which contributes around 92% to its foreign exchange earnings. This dependence on oil underscores the nation's abundant pool of oil and energy experts and professionals.
Arabic serves as the primary language in Iraq, facilitating seamless integration with Middle Eastern companies. Additionally, Iraq's GMT +3 time zone adds to its convenience for regional collaboration.
Notably, Iraq also has a big population of English speakers: roughly 11 million people, representing around 35% of the country.
Iraq is home to some of the world's oldest civilizations, with a history that includes the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Its often referred to as the "Cradle of Civilization" due to its rich historical significance and contributions to human development.
In Iraq, employment contracts must be in Arabic. However, in autonomous areas of Kurdistan, contracts can be drafted in Kurdish. It is common practice for contracts to include:
Iraqi Employers can hire employees on probation for up to three months.
In Iraq, regular working hours are 48 hours per week. Employees can work eight hours a day for six days each week.
Working hours may be increased in some cases. The increase is treated as overtime, for which the wage must be increased by 50% to 100%, depending on the type and nature of the work.
The minimum wage in Iraq ranges from 250,000 IQD to 350,000 IQD monthly.
There is no mandatory law for a 13th-month salary payment in Iraq.
Iraq operates a progressive income tax rate, ranging from 3% to 15%. Individual income tax is calculated based on annual income brackets.
Pension in Iraq is funded by social security contributions. The pension benefits are calculated based on the employee’s salary history and years of service. The system provides various types of benefits, including retirement pensions, disability pensions, and survivor pensions for dependents.
The tax-related information provided in this guide is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. Reach out to our dedicated team for insights on remote hiring in Iraq tailored to your needs.
In Iraq, employment can be terminated by both the employer and the employee. The employer can terminate based on substantial grounds or must pay severance if termination occurs without cause.
A 30-day notice is mandatory for permanent employees (unless there is a justified cause of immediate dismissal). For termination during probation, at least seven days notice must be provided. Failing to do so would result in the employer compensating the employee with wages equivalent to the notice period.
In Iraq, severance pay is typically two weeks' salary for each year of service. An employee is entitled to this end-of-service gratuity, except in specific cases such as:
There are 14 recognised national holidays in Iraq:
Iraqi employees receive social security benefits, including:
At Playroll we're all about empowering employees to work anywhere, making mobility possible for global teams. We sponsor visas and hire the employee for you, so you don’t have to worry about payroll, taxes, and more.
It's important to note, visa support can be complicated and each country has different requirements and legislation. As of August 2024, non-Singapore entities that want to employ an individual in Singapore who is not a Singapore national or permanent resident may no longer use an Employer of Record (EOR) to sponsor that individual for a work permit. Contact our experts for help on how to navigate global employment in Singapore.
Legal and compliance experts are readily available to provide guidance and case-by-case Q&A support.
By leveraging dedicated support from in-house legal and compliance experts for case by case questions and more.
Acquiring a visa without an entity has never been easier, leverage Playroll's global coverage to sponsor and hire employees.
.webp)
Access a free set of tools to navigate international hiring across 180+ countries, while staying up to date on hiring news with global insights into the changing employment landscape from Playroll.
.png)
