Employees of the Iraqi Oil Extraction Company in Kirkuk have gathered to demand equal rights and benefits, including access to petrodollar payments, aligning with employees of other oil companies. The protesters highlighted the hazardous nature of their work and the lack of adequate compensation.

“We are risking our lives daily, facing threats like toxic gas exposure and ISIS attacks, yet we have no rights or proper compensation,” one protester told Kurdistan 24. The group called on the Ministry of Petroleum to address their grievances, emphasizing the need for fair treatment.

Since 2015, the company has struggled with financial instability, leading to salary cuts and job insecurity for its employees. The workers urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani to allocate a share of petrodollars from oil revenues to compensate for the dangerous and challenging conditions under which they operate.

Another protester highlighted their willingness to continue working under extreme conditions but stressed the need for equal benefits. “We are part of the Ministry of Petroleum, and we deserve our share of petrodollars for the oil we extract,” he stated.

The protest reflects growing dissatisfaction among Iraq’s oil workers, whose labor is central to the country’s economy. The workers’ demands underscore the challenges faced by employees in Iraq's energy sector and their calls for improved job security and financial equity.