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Peaceful Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Experiencing Growing Pains
23.8.2007
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August
23, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region (Iraq), -- An
economic boom is under way in the relatively
peaceful and secure Kurdistan region (Iraq). But
inflation is also on the rise and wages for some
workers are actually decreasing.
The Kurdistan capital city of Erbil is under
construction. Its center is being transformed with
new shopping malls, offices and hotels. City
officials believe the generally secure environment
in the region, along with an influx of oil revenue
and foreign assistance, will attract private
investment and lead to long-term economic prosperity
there.
But this sense of optimism is not shared by many
working-class Kurds. Every day hundreds of day
laborers gather on the street in hopes of finding
construction work. In the past, construction bosses
would come to these locations and hire truckloads of
workers. The laborers say today these jobs are few
and far between.
The problem, says Mashud Abdulah, is the large
number of people coming from other parts of Iraq
into Kurdistan region.
He says Arab workers have come here by the thousands
and work for half the wages.
Not only are wages shrinking for many in the area,
but inflation is on the rise. Najim Addeen works for
the ministry of justice. He says his salary of $140
a month used to be enough to support his family of
five.
He says before they could afford many things, but in
the last year everything has gotten so expensive.
In one year, the rent for his small home has gone up
almost 400 percent.
Now he drives a taxi at night to earn extra money.
Many in the area complain that the local Kurdistani
government is not doing enough to control inflation
or protect the rights of Kurdish workers.
But officials say if the Kurdistan region is to
attract international business investment, it must
embrace the rules of the market place. That means
businesses have to show they can increase
productivity and control costs.
voanews com
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