Employment Policies formulated in Iraq using strengthened LMI systems and LM statistics

The ILO is partnering with the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and Kurdistan Statistical Organization (KRSO) in Iraq, to implement the first national Labour Force Survey (LFS) in a decade.

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The ILO is partnering with the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and Kurdistan Statistical Organization (KRSO) in Iraq, to implement the first national Labour Force Survey (LFS) in a decade. Reliable survey results are of critical importance to contribute to better design and implementation of appropriate employment policies.

Iraq remains in deep crises in its post-war environment with a worsened labour market situation driven by infrastructure destruction, mass displacement, reduced investments and job losses. This project will establish a baseline of current labour market data and statistics needed for evidence-based employment policy development.

The LFS survey will be designed to produce estimates on the national, district and urban/rural levels of Iraq. Support will be provided to the CSO and KRSO to implement the LFS which will adopt a methodology aligned with the latest statistical standards established by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS).

Based on the survey results, a new evidence-based National Employment Policy (NEP) will be developed by relevant tripartite stakeholders in Iraq and submitted to the Parliament for adoption. This new NEP will look into the immediate needs of livelihoods creation and emergency employment in addition to addressing the medium- to longer- term structural challenges and decent work deficits facing women and men in the Iraqi labour market.

Objectives

  • Conduct the first LFS in a decade in line with the latest statistical standards and recommendations of the 19th ICLS and using the CAPI model.
  • Include new modules on international migration, time use, disabled persons, impact on COVID-19 on Labour market, and participation of persons and establishments in unions.
  • Provide reliable labour market indicators and analyze statistical data on labour force for employment policy formulation.
  • Strengthen national capacities for effective employment policy making in Iraq.

Main Activities

  • Prepare the survey methodology including sampling, weights adjustment, questionnaire design, questionnaire programming and testing, consistency checks, and interviewers’ training materials.
  • Carry out field preparations, including training of field staff, and pilot testing.
  • Collect LFS data from 16,000 households assuring the representation of main labour indicators at the governorate and urban/rural levels.
  • Complete data processing, quality assurance and tabulation.
  • Analyze and publish survey results and LFS report.
  • Establish tripartite inter-ministerial structures to drive the NEP formulation process.
  • Conduct an Employment Diagnostic exercise to generate relevant policy options.
  • Conduct a series of capacity building workshops for Government, Employers’, and Workers’ representatives on analysis of labour market indicators; designing and implementing effective employment policies; and on effective reporting in line with Iraq’s obligations as a signatory to C122.
  • Support the drafting of a new National Employment Policy.

Outcomes

  • Provision of reliable data and analysis of labour market indicators in Iraq through implementation of ILO guidelines and statistical standards and recommendations.
  • Provision of capacity building to the CSO and KRSO staff to ensure future sustainability of LFS for policy monitoring and evaluation, equipping them with the newest tools for data collection and data processing.
  • Development of an evidence-based National Employment Policy for Iraq.