Egyptian workers in Iraq have reached approximately 40,000, the highest level since the 2003 US invasion according to new estimates from the country's Ministry of Labour this week, Al Araby Al Jadeed reported.

This historic influx is driven by investment opportunities and the presence of foreign and local companies in various sectors following a general calm over the country since the fight against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) was won in 2021. According to official data, Egyptians are now working in fields such as medicine, engineering, construction, and freelance work, including poultry farming, local companies, and healthcare institutions.

The number of Egyptian workers in Iraq is expected to increase in the coming years, given recent agreements between Iraq and Egypt. In June 2023, the two countries signed 11 memorandums of understanding to enhance trade, tourism, and investment. This builds on historical cooperation, including during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s when Iraq brought in 1.5 million Egyptian workers due to workforce depletion.

Ahmed Shoukry, an Egyptian engineer working in construction in Baghdad, discussed his experience. In an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, he said his father's long-term work in Iraq encouraged him to look for a job in the country, which he found two years ago. Shoukry added that the ease of obtaining a work permit in Iraq has provided opportunities for many, along with good salaries compared to those in Egypt.

However, the expatriate noted that a significant number of foreign workers, including Egyptians, work illegally. Iraqi security authorities are trying to limit illegal labour by enforcing labour laws or deporting visa violators but the authorities continue to turn a blind eye as labour shortages in several fields hamper the non-oil economy.

“I came to Iraq three years ago with nothing but hope and my engineering degree," an Egyptian construction worker told bne IntelliNews, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The wages here are triple what I could earn back home, and the Iraqis have been welcoming. But it's a double-edged sword - many of us work without proper papers, always looking over our shoulders.”

Another worker, Mahmoud Al-Shawi, a nurse working in Karbala Governorate, noted the Iraqi people's positive treatment of Egyptian workers over recent years. He said that wage levels vary but are generally good, with salaries in companies ranging from $2000 to $5000 according to employment contracts. Those in freelance jobs outside official regulations earn between IQD30,000 and IQD50,000 for construction work.

Nagem Al-Aqabi, spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Labour, confirmed that the ministry has set conditions for the entry of foreign labour into Iraq to Al Jadeed. These include admitting only skilled labour with certified experience.

Al-Aqabi said that Iraqi labour law mandates one Iraqi worker for every foreign worker similar to other Persian Gulf states – however this is rarely practiced in Iraq due to the labour shortages and net migration of natives to Turkey, Europe and elsewhere.

However, the problem is exacerbated by more than 800,000 foreign workers in the country, with only 43,000 officially registered. This figure is backed up by the head of the Iraqi Workers' Unions Federation, Sattar Danbos Barak, who confirmed that there are 800,000 illegal foreign workers in Iraq.

Barak said in a statement to Al-Sa'a network, “There are one million foreign workers in Iraq, including 200,000 legal workers and 800,000 illegal workers.”

He added, “Their random and unorganised entry is backed by mafias and influential figures,” explaining that “foreign workers in Iraq are diverse, including Arabs and Asians, with Asians making up 90%.”

The situation of unknown numbers of foreign workers is also exacerbated due to the fragmentation of the Iraqi state with authorities in the Kurdistan region dictating their own needs for its own development. According to Kurdish figures, the number of workers registered in official schemes has increased from 84,466 in 2018 to 165,627 by the end of 2023.

The ministry aims to regulate foreign labour, as it has affected Iraqi workers and increased unemployment rates in certain postcodes. To address this, they've launched an electronic visa programme in coordination with other government bodies. The visa programme aims to rectify the status of foreign labour, remove illegal workers, and provide opportunities for national labour without wasting potential.

Speaking anonymously, a source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirmed that the Residency Affairs Directorate implemented Residency Law No. 76 of 2017. This law governs the entry of migrants and organises their residency according to several legal conditions.

While about 40,000 Egyptians are registered in Iraq, many work without contracts and are not registered in residency records. These individuals, having entered Iraq through tourist visas or temporary entry documents, are violating work and residency laws.