Disability Employment Network Launched in Iraq’s Private Sector

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Iraqi National Network for Employers Interested in Empowering and Employing People with Disabilities was held at the headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Industries. The network, launched in December 2024, is a joint initiative by the Federation and the International Labour Organization (ILO), under the ILO project “Towards more and better employment through enhanced support to private sectors in southern Iraq, with a focus on green business.” The project is funded by the Italian government through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and forms part of the Team Europe “TAUFIQ” initiative.

The meeting brought together high-level officials, including the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Youth Affairs, the ILO’s Country Coordinator in Iraq, and representatives from ministries, the private sector, trade unions, civil society, and financial institutions.

Key discussions centred on the governance, objectives, and operational mechanisms of the network, as well as its connection to the ILO’s Global Business and Disability Network. The committee agreed on its structure, responsibilities, and the formation of subcommittees for communication, programme management, and training and employment.

Labour Minister Ahmed Al-Asadi affirmed the government’s commitment to creating inclusive work environments and announced plans to introduce tax exemptions to encourage private sector employment of people with disabilities. Iraqi Federation of Industries President Adel Akab highlighted the network’s role as a platform for inclusive employers and confirmed the establishment of a dedicated division within the Federation to ensure sustainability.

Dr Qassem Al-Dalmi, Youth Affairs Advisor, called for integrating disability inclusion into national development plans, while ILO’s Maha Katta stressed the network’s potential to drive real change in inclusive employment.

The Iraqi National Network aims to support inclusive hiring, offer technical assistance to employers, coordinate government incentives, and connect job seekers with disabilities to private sector opportunities, contributing to a more equitable and accessible Iraqi labour market.

Source: United Nations