The issue of the number of holidays in Iraq is one of the strangest problems a country could experience, with its obvious adverse repercussions. However, religious Iraqis are not likely to agree on this issue and continue to lobby to have their own holidays recognized.
Yonadam Kanna, chairman of the parliamentary Labor and Social Affairs Committee, stressed that this problem is much bigger than imagined, as Iraqi workers do not work more than 48 days per year — negatively impacting development and state-building — as opposed to averages of 150-280 working days a year in other countries.
Although Iraq is in need of an inclusive reconstruction process, the many holidays — especially the religious ones — stand in the way of the country's construction and development, and it poses risks to security and educational levels, too. This situation thus requires serious consideration that bears in mind the best interests of the country, not those of conflicting religious factions.
(Picture: Ashura in al Kadumiya district, Baghdad. Photo credit: Layth Mahdi)
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