Iraq Must Accommodate Foreign Workers to Boost Investments

“The Oil Ministry has struggled a lot in terms of entrance and residency permits for foreign workers, especially after the [oil exploration] licensing rounds were finished," Jihad said. "We have met many times with the concerned parties because the companies have faced significant difficulties when it comes to residency permits, visas and medical tests. We tried to facilitate the entrance of their staff.”

He then added, “We noted that facilities granted to these companies in other countries are many. It is, however, a different story in Iraq. We are still at the first steps of the road to understanding the nature of the work of these companies. We have to provide facilities in all fields, give up on bureaucracy and launch campaigns in all state departments to develop the investment [sector].”

Despite this, Jihad affirmed that “the number of foreign workers in foreign companies operating in Iraq is minor in comparison to the number of Iraqis. Iraq stipulated in the contracts [granted to these companies] that they must rely on national staff by up to 85%,” affirming that “this is actually being implemented.”

The Iraqi parliament is trying to distance itself from the issue of the facilities required by foreign companies in terms of their workers’ entrance and residency permits.

Kassem Meshkati, a member of the parliamentary Oil and Energy Committee, told Al-Monitor, “The mission of the parliament is restricted to monitoring deals and passing laws. Facilitating residency permits and granting visas are part of the field of competence of the executive power.”

Meshkati also said, “In Iraq, we are still adhering to centralization and are prisoners to this concept. We do not believe that investment is a strong support for the economy.” He explained, “According to economic market theory, investment plays a leading role in economic activities. A developed and prosperous economy cannot exist without a factor that attracts investment.”

“There are some factors that could attract investment — including tax exemptions, customs fees and facilities that are offered to these companies, in addition to the provision of infrastructure. Iraq is providing none of these,” he continued.

On the security level, Iraq’s Interior Ministry said, “The procedures to acquire a visa and residency permit in Iraq are clear.” Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan told Al-Monitor, “In general, our procedures are clear in terms of granting residency permits and visas. [It is done] according to specific mechanisms,” explaining that “there is a special mechanism for granting visas to investors and journalists, which simplifies many of the stages.” He did not, however, reveal the nature of this mechanism.

Omar al-Shaher is a contributor to Al-Monitor’s Iraq Pulse. His writing has appeared in publications including France’s Le Monde, Iraq's Alesbuyia, Egypt’s Al-Ahaly and the Elaph website. He previously covered political and security affairs for Iraq's Al-Mada newspaper.