IRAQ: Citizens chafe under rising unemployment [View All]

IRAQ: Citizens chafe under rising unemployment
01 Jun 2006 13:08:01 GMT
Source: IRIN

BAGHDAD, 1 June (IRIN) - For Abbas Mohamed al-Sakri, the 20 years he spent studying Arabic literature was "a big mistake" because he remains unable to get a job with his degree.
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According to Mohamed Taha al-Mousawi, an adviser at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the national unemployment rate surpassed 60 percent last year. "And the rate rose further in the first quarter of this year, as many policemen and army members quit their jobs due to threats by militants groups," al-Mousawi said. He added that his ministry had no plans to promote employment until the security situation had improved.

Iraq's high unemployment rate was also recently acknowledged by the First Lady. Speaking at an international conference devoted to women in business in London on 23 May, the wife of President Jalal Talabani stressed that high unemployment levels made disaffected youths easy targets for recruitment by extremists.

Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, a respected businesswoman and founder of the Kurdistan Women's Union, agreed. She warned that that joblessness could be expected to increase further, especially in central and southern Iraq. "Unemployment levels have exceeded all limits," she said.
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