24 workers killed in South Kurdistan in 4 months

The head of the Workers and Peasants Bureau of the Kurdistan Communist Party, Othman Hameh Saeed, confirmed during a press conference held in Hewlêr on Tuesday that 24 workers lost their lives in Southern Kurdistan during the first four months of 2026.

Othman noted that the victims included both local and foreign workers, emphasizing that the primary cause of death was the lack of occupational safety conditions at work sites.

Although Labor Law No. 71 of 1987 in Southern Kurdistan mandates the implementation of safety standards, particularly in the construction sector, compliance currently does not exceed 50%, with weak oversight, according to Othman.

The press conference also highlighted the crisis of "social protection." Registered workers enjoy social security, while daily wage earners lack any legal protection, as this latter group is the most vulnerable to risks, with no guarantee of their rights or the rights of their families in the event of death.

At the conclusion of the conference, which coincided with the approach of International Workers' Day, the Communist Party called for the strict activation of periodic inspection committees, the updating of labor legislation to keep pace with the reality of work in Southern Kurdistan, and obligating employers to adhere to full legal standards to prevent the rise in the number of victims.