At a Glance

• Budget constraints have stalled a key security retirement bill at the Finance Ministry.
• Personnel can retire at 40, adding a 330,000 IQD food allowance to pensions.
• Lawmaker Mazin Gharib confirmed financially demanding bills are temporarily paused.

The draft amendment to the Iraqi Internal Security Forces Retirement Law, which offers significant facilitation for personnel, is currently stalled at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance due to a lack of financial allocations, making its approval in the near future unlikely.

---

Key Statement and Focus Area

• Lawmaker Mazin Gharib affirmed that Iraq is facing a difficult financial situation. 
• The Security and Defense Committee has finalized its report on the amendment to the Internal Security Forces Retirement Law and forwarded it to the Parliament Presidency. 

---

Gharib, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, stated that any law adding a financial burden to the government requires formal approval from the Ministry of Finance.

He clarified that due to unfavorable fiscal conditions, work cannot currently proceed on this amendment or any legislative projects that incur financial obligations, effectively postponing the process until the country's economic stability and revenues improve.

Under the proposed amendment, Ministry of the Interior personnel can request retirement after 15 years of service upon reaching the age of 40. 

The bill also seeks to convert the current 330,000 IQD food allowance into a permanent benefit incorporated into the base salary calculation upon retirement. 

To advance the legislation, the committee has held a series of meetings to finalize its report and secure a slot on the parliamentary session agenda.

FYI

The proposed legislation represents the second amendment draft to the Internal Security Forces Service and Retirement Law (Law No. 18 of 2011).

Historically, under the prevailing Unified Pension Law (Law No. 9 of 2014), retired personnel only had their basic salary and qualification allowances counted toward their pensions. This created widespread dissatisfaction because grueling, round-the-clock security duties were not reflected in final retirement payouts. 

The legislative push intensified as Iraq experienced broader institutional efforts to standardize security sector administration, pensions, and ranks. 

To enhance living standards, the parliamentary committee introduced welfare expansions, including danger allowances, medical-board exemptions for wounded personnel, and posthumous promotions for martyrs. 

Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You

Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:

KRG, Baghdad Finance Officials Advance Talks on 2027 Budget 

Iraq Government to Submit Revised PMF Bill to Parliament

Iraqi MPs Demand Government Expedite PMF Service and Retirement Law

Channel8 Reveals Details of Proposed Amendment to Internal Security Forces Pension Law