On 29 July 2026, Aran Organization for the Development of Civic Culture, with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), organized a high-level conference to discuss the protection of nurses' rights in the private health sector and address the widespread labor rights violations they face.

The conference brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Health Workers Syndicate, and a number of nurses who have personally experienced workplace violations in private hospitals and clinics.

At the beginning of the conference, Aran Organization presented the findings of its research on the working conditions of nurses in the Kurdistan Region's private health sector. According to the data, approximately 13,200 nurses and healthcare workers are employed in nearly 8,000 private healthcare facilities. The findings revealed serious concerns, including:

16% were required to perform duties outside their professional specialization.

10% worked without pay during extended "trial" periods, with some working for up to 90 days without receiving any salary.

39% regularly worked overtime without receiving overtime compensation.

2% reported experiencing workplace violence from employers or patients' families.

3% of female nurses reported being subjected to harassment in the workplace.

57% worked without formal employment contracts.

Among those with contracts, 84% said their contracts failed to protect their legal rights or working conditions.

64% of female nurses were denied maternity leave.

88% received very low salaries, beginning at only 150,000 Iraqi dinars per month, while some worked up to 28 days each month.

75% were not covered by social security, and many were unaware of their entitlement to it.

Participants discussed these findings in detail, noting that the largest share of violations occurs in private hospitals (49%) and private medical clinics (21%).

The conference highlighted that these practices violate Iraqi labour law, internationally recognized human rights standards, and the principles of the World Health Organization, which emphasize that healthcare workers should perform their duties in safe and dignified working environments. Instead, many nurses in the Kurdistan Region continue to work under excessive pressure, for low wages, and without adequate legal or social protection. In some private hospitals, the workload of twenty nurses is carried out by only two, while many employers fail to register their staff for social security, placing their future retirement rights at risk.

Following extensive discussions, participants presented a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening the protection of healthcare workers' rights.

Key Recommendations

To the Ministry of Health

Introduce a unified electronic employment contract that fully complies with labour law.

Ensure salaries are paid through bank transfers.

Establish a specialized unit to monitor labour rights in private healthcare institutions.

Set and enforce minimum staffing levels in private hospitals.

Provide hazard allowances for employees working in high-risk departments.

End the use of insecure daily wage arrangements.

Create an electronic complaint system linked to the relevant government institutions.

To the Kurdistan Medical and Dental Syndicates

Adopt the same labour protection measures recommended for the Ministry of Health.

Prevent unpaid overtime.

Ensure all healthcare workers are employed under legal contracts.

To the Health Workers Syndicate

Continue defending the rights of healthcare workers.

Monitor violations and provide support to affected employees.

To the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Conduct regular inspections and apply legal penalties against employers violating labour law.

Ensure employers register all eligible employees in the social security system.

Strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Health and professional syndicates.

Ensure healthcare workers receive fair wages, legal working hours, social protection, and respectful treatment.

Joint Field Inspection Committee

Participants also recommended establishing a permanent joint inspection committee composed of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and relevant medical and health syndicates to conduct regular and unannounced inspections of private healthcare institutions. The committee would help ensure compliance with labour laws, protect workers' rights, and promote fairness and accountability throughout the private health sector.

Aran Organization remains committed to advocating for decent working conditions, social justice, and the protection of healthcare workers whose dedication is essential to the wellbeing of society.