This situation is adversely affecting the economic sector, too, as Iraqi economists are warning against a recession due to frequent market disruptions. In this context, economic expert Bassem Jamil Antoine said that Iraq is losing $150 billion (175 trillion Iraqi dinars) a year, which is equivalent to $1 billion per vacation day, given the high frequency of holidays.
In a telephone interview with Al-Monitor, Ali Hassoun, a member of the Education Committee in the previous parliament that approved the law on official holidays, said that the number of holidays — which has had much media attention lately — is exaggerated, and that Iraq is not the country with the highest number of vacation days.
Hassoun attributed the large number of holidays to the complex social structure in Iraq, as it comprises many different religious, sectarian and ethnic components that all want to celebrate their own holidays.
Despite the adverse effect of the frequent holidays on the overall activity of the country, the Iraqi governments of late do not seem interested in finding serious solutions to this problem.
It appears that the issue of holidays is part of a system that characterizes the political process in Iraq, with each religion, sect, minority and ethnicity advocating to have their religious celebrations recognized as official holidays.
"Although these holidays disrupt work in the state departments and the services and construction sectors, there is no agreement — or rather there is a big dispute — within the Iraqi parliament to address the problem and find adequate solutions," Hassoun said.
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